Meet the Candidates: Ryan Cudemus-Brunoli for 3F01

Last week, we introduced you to the candidates in ANC 3F’s two contested races, 3F05 and 3F06. This week, as part of our 2022 “Meet the Candidates” series, we’re publishing statements from the candidates for 3F01-04.

ANC 3F01 is almost solely residential, the exception being Sheridan School. Residents live in detached houses and duplexes, and in high-rise apartments, condos and a co-op on the west side of Connecticut Avenue between Albemarle and Cumberland.

3F01 has one candidate for the seat. Here is Ryan Cudemus-Brunoli’s statement:

Hello, I am Ryan Cudemus-Brunoli, pronounced Coo-day-miss Brew-no-lee, if you were wondering. But you can call me Ryan C-B.

I rent and live at the 4600 Connecticut Ave condo building and have been in the area since mid 2019. Unfortunately, I arrived right before the pandemic and was unable to properly experience our neighborhood’s vibrancy prior to several shutdowns and closures.

I originally came to our area to study and complete my masters of public policy at American University and have since stayed due to my employment protecting consumers at the Consumer Product Safety Commission. More than just my job, I also preferred to stay because our area provides plenty of city amenities, incredible eateries, and parks all within a walkable area. As a side note, I also volunteer with Van Ness Main Street, which continues to be a boon to our area.

I decided to run for ANC 3F01 because I truly believe in people power. A proper democracy is hardly one where people vote once every four years, or if you’re slightly more involved, once every two years. A true democracy is more than a system, it is also a culture.

It is my belief, and you can debate me on how naive it is, that power truly should belong to the people, not just those we elect to represent our interests. Even the most dedicated and honest representative would struggle to fully encapsulate an area’s interests, even one as small as our Single Member District.

While I will endeavor to represent 3F01’s interests as honestly as possible, I am not without my own personal interests. However, in any Commission meeting or in any political context, no matter how minor, I will clearly distinguish when I speak of my own interests and when I speak of your interests. At times they may align, and at others they may clash. But my desire to provide an honest representation of our community will always be equal to my own personal interests.

I look forward to serving as your commissioner and I aim to be reasonably accessible to any community members or any groups.

Contact Ryan Cudemus-Brunoli at ryancb3F01@gmail.com.