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
Jeff Giertz
Your ANC single member district
ANC 6A06
What is a landmark people may know your SMD from?
NE corner of Capitol Hill / eastern extremus of H St NE, including restaurants on the south side of the 1300 and 1400 blocks of H St, such as Maketto, Bullfrog Bagels, and Atlas Performing Arts Center.
Why are you running for ANC?
Earlier this year, I got more involved in neighborhood issues when I drafted and led a petition in support of a proposal to eliminate stark racial disparities between Miner and Maury elementary schools by pairing their attendance boundaries. I want to continue advocating for our community, and decided to run for ANC when I learned that Robb Dooling, our current commissioner, wasn’t seeking reelection. I love our neighborhood. It’s a special place that I’m proud to call home. And I want it to be the best it can be. Most fundamentally to me, that means safe streets, great public schools, and great opportunities to live, work, and play in a place where everyone feels welcome.
Why do you believe ANC is an important office?
Despite being the smallest unit of government in DC, I believe that ANCs can be an effective voice for elevating neighborhood concerns and enacting meaningful positive change in our city.
Why should your neighbors vote for you?
I’ve worked in politics and policy my entire career — my day job is working in the US Senate for US Senator Cory Booker. I will be a responsive commissioner who works tirelessly to elevate the voices and concerns of my neighbors.
Why should we all keep an eye on Advisory Neighborhood Commissions as a whole?
All politics is local — and it doesn’t get more local than DC’s ANCs. Positive change can happen because of what happens on the ANC level.