Meet Your Commissioner
In June 2023, Anthony Thomas-Davis was sworn in as the Commissioner to represent Single Member District 06 of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A. Anthony is an experienced government & legislative affairs professional currently serving as a policy advisor to Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and the Committee on Transportation & the Environment at the Council of the District of Columbia.
A political and social scientist by training, Anthony has demonstrated experience delivering mission-critical, research-informed, and data-driven results while strategically and responsively fixing problems and working with and leading teams to gather, identify, react, and adapt to actionable insights. With a proven track record of success at effectively aligning organizational resources with strategic priorities and objectives to achieve measurable results, Anthony has a reputation for creating, scaling, and optimizing projects and programs for impact. Passionate about voting rights and democracy, social and racial justice, and the intersection of the law, he has worked at organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, leading their lobbying and advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and across Washington, DC, and at the NAACP Legal Defense leading prosecutor reform and other criminal legal system change.
Anthony is excited to serve as your commissioner and is committed to bringing fresh, bold, and innovative ideas to the complex challenges and opportunities for Columbia Heights. He prioritizes quality of life and core city services issues and hopes to make measurable impacts around improving public safety and advancing solutions to the District's urgent climate and environmental issues. Anthony is most excited about working with his fellow commissioners and ensuring his 1A06 neighbors feel heard and know their voices and concerns are lifted up in every policy conversation.
A Chicago native, he graduated from the Chicago Military Academy, where he rose to the rank of C/Major and second-in-command as Battalion Executive Officer. He attended DePaul University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Political Science, minoring in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and was a university leadership scholar. Anthony also earned a master's degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois Springfield, where he specialized in public law and policy and was awarded a predoctoral research and teaching fellowship.
Anthony resides on the 1400 block of Kenyon Street, and you will often find him walking around the community with his dog, Archer. Anthony is an avid archer and enjoys hiking, cooking, binge-watching old TV shows, and hopelessly trying to keep his plants alive.
My commitment to taking on this responsibility is to serve you and our community. I believe that true leadership lies in listening to the hopes and concerns of the people and translating them into meaningful action. This is what I will do for the residents of Columbia Heights.
Columbia Heights is a dynamic and diverse neighborhood, boasting vibrant commercial corridors, a thriving restaurant scene, and cultural attractions that are the envy of the region. Moreover, we are a community of many demographics, from young professionals and budding new families to long-time residents who have seen the neighborhood through years of revitalization.
As Columbia Heights continues to evolve and face its share of challenges, like many other areas of the District, we must advocate for investments in public space and parks, the construction of new mixed-use housing developments, improved public safety that doesn’t sacrifice long-fought decriminalization and rehabilitation efforts, and equitable, reliable transportation and safe streets that breathe new life into our community and set us on a path towards a brighter future.
Columbia Heights is a community unlike any other in the District, and it is with great honor that I take on the responsibility of representing your interests and aspirations for what more it can be. My commitment to you is steadfast, and I am driven by the belief that together, we can create positive change that propels us toward a brighter future.
My vision extends beyond short-term fixes; it encompasses sustainable solutions that lay the foundation for much greater opportunity for all Columbia Heights residents.
Renewal, for me, is not just a buzzword; it's a commitment to revitalizing our community from the ground up.
Progress demands innovation and adaptability. By embracing new, big, and bold ideas, championing sustainable solutions, and fostering a climate of inclusivity and collaboration, we can foster an environment that empowers everyone to thrive.
Our path to growth and renewal is paved with opportunity. I am dedicated to promoting policies encouraging economic development, job creation, and investment in our local businesses.
Transparency and accountability will be the cornerstones of my work. I firmly believe that open communication with constituents is vital for effective problem-solving. That's why I am committed to providing you with regular updates on my activities, decisions, and the progress we make together to pursue our shared goals.
None of this work is about me – it's about us. It's about empowering you, the residents of our neighborhood and community, to actively participate in shaping, one day at a time, a brighter future for all of us. Your voice matters, and I encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns with me.
Together, we will face challenges head-on and turn them into opportunities. We will celebrate our successes, learn from our setbacks, and move forward with determination. I believe in the immense potential of Columbia Heights, and I am committed to unlocking it, with you, one step at a time.
Thank you for entrusting me with the privilege to serve you. Together, let's embark on this journey of renewal and growth, working hand in hand to build a brighter, more prosperous, and united Columbia Heights.
