Robb Dooling, Commissioner for Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C06, announced that he would be stepping down at the April 10th meeting of the commission.
Dooling said that he was compelled to step down because he had purchased a home outside the bounds of his SMD, where he had been a renter for five years. Calling the announcement ‘bittersweet’, Dooling said that he had been searching for a home within his district for nearly a year, finally finding a home a few blocks outside its boundaries.
His resignation is effective April 12.
“I am disappointed that my best efforts to remain in 6C06 failed, but I am enthusiastic to remain an advocate for housing everywhere as a human right,” Dooling said. He praised the commissioners as outstanding public servants and role models, and thanked the neighborhood for what he called “the best five years of my life so far.”
Chair Karen Wirt presented Dooling with a certificate in recognition of his work. “We have so enjoyed working with you,” she said, “and you have done so much to improve quality of life.”
Naomi Mitchell, Representative for Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, presented Dooling with a copy of a sample ballot from the 2018 election, showing Dooling listed as candidate. “I’ve always wanted one of these,” Dooling said, his joy apparent.
Despite having no opponents in the November 2018 election, Rob Dooling received more than 1,800 votes affirming him as the choice to represent SMD 6C06 after Heather Edelman declined to run. Each ANC is designed to represent about 2,000 people.
Dooling was sworn in January, 2019.
In addition to his work advocating for better transit, cycling access and public spaces for people with disabilities, Dooling works as a technical editor at the U.S. Department of State. Since 2017, he has also served on DC’s Multimodal Accessibility Advisory Council advising the city government on how to improve transportation and public spaces for people with disabilities.
