Why I Am Running for Re-election

Your support means everything.

I'm asking my neighbors in Single-Member District 1A06 for another term. Before the campaign literature goes out and signs go up, I want to tell you why — where this started for me, what I've actually done with the time you’ve given me so far, and what I still intend to do with it.

What I asked you to trust me with

I was sworn in as your Commissioner in June 2023 following a special election, and you re-elected me in November 2024. Both times, I told you I'd bring to this seat the same things I try to bring to everything else: preparation, persistence, an unrelenting curiosity, and a willingness to use every tool the office has.

Columbia Heights is changing fast—and, at the same time, not changing fast enough. We are facing a lagging neighborhood economy and commercial corridors that need real investment and real enforcement; a housing affordability crisis; rising costs of living in almost every category; and a deteriorating public realm that is affecting the desirability of our neighborhood. At the same time, the District is facing a fiscal cliff that will force real choices about which city services are actually funded, what gets cut, and how those cuts hit neighborhoods like ours that already have uneven city services. We will see a new Council Period bring five new councilmembers, and a new mayor will take office in January. DC will face one of the most consequential periods in its history, and that means that we’ll need all the right voices at the table.

This is also a moment where you deserve an ANC Commissioner who fully understands the job and the assignment, who knows what an ANC can actually demand of agencies and how they can influence legislation at the Council, who understands the District’s budget process and can fight for investments for Columbia Heights, and who shows up on the block — not just at the podium.

That's what I have been doing, and exactly what I will continue to do in the next term if you re-elect me.

“My vision for improving our neighborhood extends beyond short-term fixes; it encompasses sustainable solutions that lay the foundation for greater opportunity and progress for all Columbia Heights residents.”

Why am I asking you for another term?

When I first took office in 2023, I wrote a similar message to you, stating my emphatic belief that progress demanded innovation and adaptability, and that by embracing new, big, and bold ideas, championing sustainable solutions, and fostering a climate of inclusivity and collaboration, we could foster an environment that empowers everyone to thrive. After several long years of work and fighting for you, I think we are closer to that goal than before. But there is still so much more work to do, and I am fired up to keep fighting for you and the neighborhood we call home.

Progress will not be easy.

As the District enters one of the most challenging periods in its history, progress will not be easy. I am wide-eyed about the challenges ahead and know that the fights ahead won’t be won without the knowledge and experience that we have gained over the last several years. I am asking you to trust that I am more than ready to continue serving you, fighting for you, and ensuring that our neighborhood's needs are met. Columbia Heights deserves a future that is stronger and brighter than the years before, and I will be relentless in championing and pursuing the big, bold solutions that help get us there, while being pragmatic about the District’s financial outlook and the need to better steward taxpayers’ dollars.

Columbia Heights is the heart of the District, and our Sixth District is the heart of Columbia Heights. I am so proud of the work we’ve achieved over the last four years, and I know that we can and will do more to ensure our district, our neighborhood, and our city’s best days remain ahead of us. You deserve a fighter who will not stop at small fixes, and you deserve a representative who will always center your concerns, hopes, and aspirations at the heart of their work and decision-making. And I think I have proved that I am that fighter and representative, and, if re-elected, I will continue to show up in the same way for you and your neighbors.

So, I am asking for your support again.

I am asking for your vote on November 3 to re-elect me as your Commissioner for Single-Member District 1A06. I am excited to earn your support and your vote, and I look forward to the conversation we will have over the next several months and the years ahead. I am excited to continue to serve you. Thank you.

Yours in Service,

Anthony