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The Week Ahead…..

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday.  August 28

ANC 6B Executive Committee Meeting to set the Agenda for the August ANC6B meeting.  6:00pm-7:00pm.  The Hill Center.  The Executive Committee will likely decide to put a resolution on how to resolve outstanding questions concerning management of the weekend flea markets on ANC6B’s agenda for the next meeting.

Community briefing by Metropolitan Police on burglaries, street robberies, and assaults.  7:00pm – 9:00pm.  The Hill Center.  Questions will be asked.  And assurances given.

Tim Britt’s Nominating Petition Omitted Key Dates:  Mistakes Considered Irreparable by DC Board of Elections

By Larry Janezich

Additional information about the removal of candidate Tim Britt’s name from the ballot provided by the DC Board of Elections on Friday morning reveals that, in addition to the single ineligible signature on the petition, eight signatures were undated, an omission that rendered those entries invalid and beyond redemption.

The Board held a “prehearing” meeting with the candidate and challenger on Monday.  The prehearing is held, according to a Board of Election official, to “provide an opportunity for the two parties to agree what to do next.”  Britt was told by Board a representative at that time that one of his signatures was that of an unregistered individual, and thus invalid.  In addition, he was told that 8 signatures were invalid because they were not dated.  Confronted with this information, Britt had no choice but to withdraw the petition.  Except for the failure to enter a date, the 8 signatures were otherwise valid.  Although the Board of Elections provides an opportunity for post-submission validation of petition signatures of registered voters who have a new address, there is no post-submission “cure” for undated signatures or unregistered signers.

A Board representative said that candidates are advised by staff to “check over” the petition when they submit it, but said that the candidate is responsible for making sure the information is accurate and complete.   When asked why the Board does not offer more service to political newcomers who are subject to rules designed to root out political malfeasance but which, in this instance, punish an oversight that then disqualifies them for the ballot, the DC Board of Elections underscored the fact that it is the candidate’s responsibility to make sure signatures and petitions are correct.

For this reason, Kirsten Oldenburg, one of three commissioners to be censured during the current term of ANC 6B for a violation of its bylaws, will be running unopposed on the ballot.  Of the other two censured ANC6B Commissioners, Dave Garrison is also running unopposed for reelection.  The third commissioner – Norm Metzger – is not seeking reelection.

Oldenburg Bounces Opponent from Ballot via Challenge – Tim Britt to Launch Write-In Campaign

By Larry Janezich

Tim Britt, who had registered as an opponent of ANC6B Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg in the November election, was removed from the election ballot after an Oldenburg challenge revealed a single unqualified signer of the petition, leaving him one name short of the required number of signees.

Britt, who was unaware of the challenge until the DC Board of Elections came to its decision, responded to the news by vowing to launch a write in campaign for the seat.  Britt expects to have a website up and running this weekend, at timbritt4anc.com.

Oldenburg may be particularly vulnerable this election year:  some constituents are upset by her handling of the new Hill Center liquor license and operating hours; other neighbors of the Hine development cite her unqualified endorsement of Stanton-Eastbanc’s design for the Hine development.  The latter position put her at odds not only with the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, but also one of the District’s most prominent architects, D. Graham Davidson, FAIA, member of DC’s Historic Preservation Review Board.

Britt, a former 12^th Street neighbor of Oldenburg’s currently lives with his wife Lanna on 10^th Street, SE, across from Tyler Elementary School.  Britt has been a resident of the Hill since 2007 and served eight years as a U.S. Army Military Police officer, including a tour of duty in Iraq.

Final List of ANC6B Candidates – Critchfield to Seek Re-election; Oldenburg Challenged

by Larry Janezich

In the last few days to do so, ANC6B Chair Jared Critchfield, 1505 K Street, SE, has filed to seek re-election to represent SMD 6B06.  Tim Britt, 753 10^th Street, SE, has filed to run for the SMD6B04 seat held by Kirsten Oldenburg.

The period for filing for ANC6B candidacy for the November election closed today.  Candidates who have filed to run could still withdraw their candidacy before Election Day.  As of today, the list of candidates is as follows:

6B01 – Incumbent* unchallenged.

Dave Garrison*

6B02 – Incumbent* challenged.

Ivan Frishberg*

Gerald (Jerry) Sroufe

6B03 – Current Commissioner Norm Metzger is not seeking re-election; there are  two candidates for the seat.

Philip Peisch

Randy Steer

6B04 – Incumbent* challenged.

Kirsten Oldenburg*

Tim Britt

6B05 – Incumbent* challenged.

Brian Pate*

Steve Holtzman

6B06 – Incumbent* challenged.   There are three candidates:

Jared Cricthfield*

Chris Harlow

Nichole Opkins

6B07 – Incumbent Carol Green is not seeking re-election.  One candidate has emerged.

Sara Loveland

6B08 – Incumbent Neil Glick is not seeking re-election.  One candidate has emerged.

Chander Jayaraman

6B09 – Incumbent* unchallenged.

Brian Flahaven*

6B10 – Incumbent* unchallenged.

Francis M. Campbell*

ANC6B Hine Negotiators Face Challenge at Polls – Opponents of Chair and Vice Chair of Hine Subcommittee Step Forward

by Larry Janezich

The two ANC6B commissioners who negotiated the memorandum of agreement regarding benefits, mitigation, and amenities with the Hine developers will be opposed in the November election.  The seats of Ivan Frishberg, Chair of the Hine Subcommittee; and Brian Pate, Vice Chair, will be contested by Gerald (Jerry) Sroufe, 129 6th Street, SE; and Steve Holtzman 210 8th Street, SE, respectively.

Sroufe and Holtzman were outspoken critics of some of the key points in the memorandum of agreement reached between ANC6B and Stanton Eastbanc.  Both presented statements critical of the design of the Hine project before the Zoning Commission last month.  The ZC is likely to issue a zoning order or directive to the developer to make certain design changes to the project when it meets on September 10.

ANC6B approved the memorandum of agreement on June 13 by a vote of 6-4.  Many in the community felt that more concessions could have been wrung from the developers than were accomplished by Frishberg and Pate.

In another significant development, a candidate has emerged to succeed retiring Commissioner Carol Green.  Sara Loveland, of  951 14th Street, SE, has registered to be a candidate for SMD 6B07 and is so-far, running unopposed for the seat.

The period to register as a candidate will close at the close of business on Wednesday, August 8.

As of now, those who have registered for candidacy in ANC6B are as follows:

6B01 – Incumbent* so far unchallenged.

Dave Garrison*

6B02 – Incumbent* challenged.

Ivan Frishberg*

Gerald (Jerry) Sroufe

6B03 – Current Commissioner Norm Metzger is not seeking re-election; there are three (now two – see below)  candidates for the seat.

James M. Loots  (Update:   Loots has informed emmcablog that he has  determined that due to personal and professional obligations he will not be seeking the ANC 6B03 SMD position and will support Philip Peisch in the general election.  ed.)

Philip Peisch

Randy Steer

6B04 – Incumbent* so far unchallenged.

Kirsten Oldenburg*

6B05 – Incumbent* challenged.

Brian Pate*

Steve Holtzman

6B06 – Incumbent Jared Cricthfield has not yet filed for candidacy.  Two candidates have emerged.

Chris Harlow

Nichole Opkins

6B07 – Incumbent Carol Green is not seeking re-election.  One candidate has emerged.

Sara Loveland

6B08 – Incumbent Neil Glick is not seeking re-election.  One candidate has emerged.

Chander Jayaraman

6B09 – Incumbent* so far unchallenged.

Brian Flahaven*

6B10 – Incumbent* so far unchallenged.

Francis M. Campbell*

Three ANC6B Commissioners Will Not Seek Re-election – Filing Deadline is August 8

by Larry Janezich

At least three ANC6B Commissioners will not seek re-election this fall:  Commissioners Neil Glick, Carol Green, and Norm Metzger have all announced they will not be candidates in the November election.

Three candidates are seeking Metzger’s 6B03 seat, including James M. Loots, 634 G Street, SE; Philip Peisch, 506 G Street, SE; and Randy Steer, 535 7th Street, SE.

Chander Jayaraman, 1436 Independence Avenue, SE, is the only candidate currently registered to run for Glick’s 6B08 seat.

So far, no one has registered for candidacy Carol Green’s SMD, 6B07.

Commissioner and ANC6B Chair Jared Critchfield has not yet filed for candidacy and is undecided about running, but two 6B06 residents are seeking Critchfield’s  seat –  Chris Harlow, 1306 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE #202 and Nichole Opkins, 542 14th Street, SE.

The deadline for filing for candidacy is Wednesday, August 8, and additional candidates could emerge.

Commissioners Dave Garrison 6B01, Ivan Frishberg, 6B02, Kirsten Oldenburg 6B04, Brian Pate, 6B05; Brian Flahaven, 6B09; and Francis Campbell, 6B10 are all seeking additional 2 year terms on the Commission.

ANC6B has ten seats, each representing a single member district (SMD).  The new SMDs for ANC6B governing the November election can be found here: www.ancdc.us

The Advisory Neighborhood Commissions consider a wide range of policies and programs affecting their neighborhoods, including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation and trash collection, and the District’s annual budget.

In each of these areas, the intent of the ANC process is to ensure input from an advisory board that is made up of the residents of the neighborhoods that are directly affected by government action.  The ANCs present their positions and recommendations on issues to various District government agencies, the Executive Branch, and the Council.

Nothing this week.

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

July 17, Tuesday

ANC6B Bylaws Review Working Group meets, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Hill Center, to continue review of ANC6B Bylaws and proposed standing rules.

July 17, Tuesday,

CHRS Board of Directors meets at 6:30pm, Capitol Hill townhomes

Note:

The filing deadline for those who seek to run for one of the ten ANC6B Commission seats is (corrected to August 8).  Those who have filed as of last Thursday are as follows:

6B01Dave Garrison *

6B02 Ivan Frishberg*

6B03 Philip Peisch

6B03 James M. Loots

6B03 Randy Steer

6B04 Kirsten Oldenburg*

*incumbent