As you fill out your ballot, you may want to know more about our most important yet most underrated local races: the Single Member District ANC commissionership! These brave and generous souls volunteer their time to make sure we can have good governance at the most local level. Meet your ANC candidates and let us know if you have any questions! The candidates’ answers have been lightly edited for clarity. Don’t know YOUR Single Member District? Click here and find it! ––María Helena Carey
Your name
Dave Wethington
Your ANC single member district
ANC 6A05
What is a landmark people may know your SMD from?
Kingsman Field and dog park is at the heart of our SMD
Why are you running for ANC?
Since moving to the District in 2015, I have embraced opportunities for community engagement and foster a strong commitment to advocating for positive change for my neighbors. As a five-year resident of 6A05, my family and I have appreciated becoming a part of this close-knit Capitol Hill community. I’m a dad to a kindergartener and 2nd grader at Maury Elementary, and through our daily walks to school and scooter rides around the neighborhood, I’ve enjoyed building stronger connections with neighbors. Recognizing some of the important issues for the community, I am interested in focusing on continued advances in public safety for residents, and would seek to serve as an advocate for responsible and equitable development that enhances the inherent qualities of the neighborhood.
Why do you believe ANC is an important office?
Government at its most local level represents the clearest voice of its constituency. The ‘great weight’ that is given to the decisions of the ANC represents democracy at its purest form – and it’s exciting to be a part of that voice.
Why should your neighbors vote for you?
Following a special election to fill a vacant seat, I was appointed as ANC Commissioner for 6A05 in September 2023. Since then, I have gained valuable insights into the workings of ANC 6A and its role in our community. Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of partnering with D.C. Council and public service organizations to advocate for my neighbors and improve our neighborhood’s quality of life. My efforts have included fostering understanding around the Maury/Miner pairing study and championing public safety enhancements, such as traffic calming measures, bike lanes, and pedestrian safety. I’ve also advocated for improvements to Kingsman Dog Park, with construction set to begin soon, and am excited to strengthen the relationship between Kingsman Academy and our neighborhood.
Why should we all keep an eye on Advisory Neighborhood Commissions as a whole?
ANCs provide the most grassroots level of government representation. Creating a direct link between the community and the D.C. government, ANCs bring their advisory authority on a wide range of issues, including zoning, transportation, public safety, and business licensing. Primarily, ANCs offer residents a platform to voice concerns and propose solutions to local issues – we are better when our neighbors are actively involved. ANCs serve as a crucial intermediary between residents and the D.C. government, ensuring that neighborhood-specific issues are addressed in a manner that reflects the interests and needs of the community.