Are you ANC material? Take the quiz, then sign up to run by Aug. 8

ANC 3F worked with District agencies for more than 14 years to get this new crosswalk installed at Connecticut and Windom Place.

“The ANC really is where the rubber meets the road on local politics,” wrote now-former ANC 3F commmissioner Mary Beth Ray as her term drew to a close in 2017:

And while the DC Council and Congress debate larger topics, it’s important to remember that the only meaningful forum for issues like sidewalks, curb cuts, trees, public space usage, liquor licenses, noise, and so forth is the ANC…. In short, ANC commissioners focus on nitty-gritty details that can improve our community.

In November, DC voters will be electing (and re-electing) more than 300 people to fill this non-partisan and hyperlocal governance role. Will you be one of them?

Here’s a quiz, borrowed shamelessly from Greater Greater Washington. Do you…

• … walk the neighborhood and constantly think of why it’s great and how it could be better?
• … enjoy talking with your neighbors and solving problems with them?
• … love digging into the details, working to a consensus, and being a decision maker?
• … want to get more involved in serving and shaping your neighborhood?
• … want to dip your toe into elected leadership to try it out, or just aren’t ready yet to run for a higher level office?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, you have what it takes to be an advisory neighborhood commissioner. The next step: Run for office!

Our own community needs more people to serve. Seven of the positions on the November 6th ballot are on ANC 3F, which looks out for the Van Ness, North Cleveland Park, Forest Hills and Wakefield neighborhoods. At least one commissioner, Shirley Adelstein of 3F02, is not seeking re-election. There is also no incumbent for the vacant ANC 3F04 seat.

We put together this how-to in 2016. The only differences are the dates. Candidates can now pick up nominating petitions at the DC Board of Elections office. The petitions must be signed by at least 25 registered voters in your single member district and returned to BOE by 5 p.m. on August 8th.

You can track who has picked up ANC nominating petitions by checking the daily updates from the DC Board of Elections.

Need additional help/moral support? Greater Greater Washington is holding a training session on Tuesday, July 24th from 7 to 9 p.m. at 1440 G Street NW. RSVP here to attend.