Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6-D) has announced the membership of the Ward 6 Redistricting Task Force, charged with making recommendations for the redrawing of the ward’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs).
The first meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 1, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public. Join the meeting by clicking this Zoom link [or below].
The first agenda includes introduction of members, a summary from Allen of the overall goals for the Task Force and a general discussion by members about the data and overall principles of the work ahead.
They are charged with establishing new boundaries for each ward’s advisory neighborhood commissions (ANCs) as well as the single member districts.
By law, the population of a single member district (SMD), the area represented by a single commissioner, can vary from 1,900 to 2,100 residents based on the 2020 US Census data. Customarily, each ANC is drawn with an odd number of SMDs to avoid any deadlock.
Ward 6 experienced the most change of any ward during the last redistricting process, and that change is likely to continue as attention now shifts to ANCs and their Single Member Districts (SMDs). Four District SMDs more than doubled in population over the last 10 years; all were in Ward 6. The fastest growing SMD in DC, ANC6C06, increased in population from 2,061 to 8,806—sufficient numbers to be represented by four commissioners rather than one.
The taskforce will meet over the next eight weeks to present recommendations to Allen and the DC Council Subcommittee on Redistricting. Once agreed to by each taskforce and approved by their respective councilmembers, the new ward ANC boundary maps will be voted on by the entire DC Council twice this spring.
The goal is to have the boundaries finalized by April in order to allow the District Board of Elections sufficient time to print materials prior to the June primary elections. The new boundaries take effect in January 2023.
The Task Force will be chaired by former ANC 6B02 Commissioner Ivan Frishberg. Members include former ANC Commissioners and Former Director of the Office of ANCs Simon Gottlieb. Appearing at ward 6 ANCs during their January meetings, Allen said that anyone who serves on the task force cannot be a sitting commissioner and should make a commitment not to run for ANC.
In an email to current commissioners, Allen said that membership on the task force was not yet final and there could be additions to the below list prior to the first meeting.
Ward 6 Redistricting Task Force Membership
|
First Name |
Last Name |
ANC of residence |
|
Ivan |
Frishberg |
6B |
|
Brian |
Pate |
6B |
|
Anna |
Forgie |
6D |
|
Christine |
Spencer |
6D |
|
Gottlieb |
Simon  |
6D |
|
Ken |
Jarboe |
6B |
|
Gary |
Peterson |
6C |
|
Iris |
Gill |
6A |
|
Marge |
Maceda |
6E |
|
Scott |
Price |
6C |
|
Georgine |
Wallace |
6D |
|
Matthew |
Oberstaedt |
6C |
|
Sheila |
White |
6C |
You can find notice of all Ward Task Force meetings on the Subcommittee on Redistricting’s website as well as links to the meetings and recordings of those that have already taken place.
Join the meeting Tuesday, Feb. 1: https://dccouncil-us.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LbT4jMt1TOSGTtQJxyfV-g
Contact the Task Force via email: Ward6RedistrictingTaskForce@gmail.com.
