Beckoned by the bright lights of New York City, Adam Tope has resigned his seat on ANC 3F. Will you take his place?
Since 2011, Tope has served North Cleveland Park and part of Tenleytown as the commissioner for single member district (SMD) 3F01. But now, he is moving to New York to join the law firm Greenberg Traurig.Tope took on the position of secretary in his first term, and then was elected chair in his second and third term. Along the way, he transformed the way 3F communicated with constituents. Tope started the ANC 3F listserv, created the original ANC website, and made ANC 3F the first advisory neighborhood commission in DC to livestream its monthly meetings.
“Adam’s quiet leadership, responsiveness, and technological savoir faire transformed ANC 3F into a model of efficiency and transparency,” said fellow commissioner Mary Beth Ray.
Tope’s SMD includes UDC. He served on the Campus-Community Task Force and also had a hand in hiring UDC’s new president as a member of the search committee. Tope also was a founding member of the Van Ness Vision Committee. He provided pro bono legal counsel in the formation of Van Ness Group, Inc., which successfully applied to become Van Ness Main Street.
Ray, the president of Van Ness Main Street, worked closely with him on this effort and on the ANC. She says Tope will be missed.
“Adam Tope epitomizes how one person can positively influence his community,” Ray said. “Adam’s calm, unobtrusive demeanor belies his passion for grassroots politics, and his belief that every resident should have a chance to have his or her say in local government. Although many of us groaned at ANC meetings that went close to midnight, at the end of the meetings, everyone felt they had been heard, nobody left feeling sidelined, and almost every vote was unanimous. That is a remarkable accomplishment in a community of strongly-held opinions.”
Tope’s move leaves an open seat on a dedicated and active ANC 3F. Our neighborhood commissioners have worked hard on a number of local issues, most recently tackling Chick-fil-A’s plans to preserve (if not expand) the drive-thru when it moves into the Burger King space next year.
You are eligible to run if you live within 3F01’s borders (check ANCfinder.org if you’re not sure) and are registered to vote in DC. This article by former commissioner Bob Summersgill explains the role of an advisory neighborhood commissioner.
The DC Board of Elections will accept nominating petitions for SMD 3F01 through Monday, February 29th. Candidates must go in person to the BOE (441 4th Street Northwest, room 250N) to pick up a petition and then return it with the signatures of 25 other registered voters within 3F01 by close of business on the 29th. After the challenge period (Thursday, March 3rd through Wednesday, March 9th), the BOE will certify the candidate or candidates. If two or more candidates make it this far in the process, the ANC will announce at its March meeting that it will hold a special election in April. If only one candidate completes this process, he or she will automatically fill the seat. And if no one does, the BOE will announce the vacancy again and the process will start over.