Note: There is a special election to fill the recently vacated 4C07 Commissioner position. Two candidates are running, and the election will be on June 14th. Voting will open at 3:30pm and close at 7:30pm in a conference room down the hall from the usual ANC meeting room in the Petworth Library basement. The winner of the election will be announced at the ANC meeting that night.

Name: Eric Heller

What is your ANC and SMD that you’re running for election?
ANC 4C07. Roughly, Taylor Street to Rock Creek Church / Rock Creek Church to New Hampshire.

What is the best way for constituents to contact you?
ericforanc4c07@gmail.com and on Twitter @ericforanc4c07

Introduction
I'm originally from Chicago. I have lived in DC since 2003 and Petworth for the past 7 years. I'm married, have one kiddo, and two dogs who love to walk all over Petworth.

I began my career working for the federal government addressing national security issues shortly after 9/11, and now work in the public health technology space. Service initially brought me to DC; and, through moves to different parts of DC and overseas, changing jobs, and building a family, my passion for service hasn't waned. If elected as ANC Commissioner, I'm eager to bring a strong sense of service to our community.

What's a hobby or something fun that you are interested in?
Photography, gardening, coaching youth lacrosse, attending live music and subjecting family and colleagues to my dad jokes.

What are your qualifications?
Through my professional experiences and participation in various community events, I have created collaborative networks to solve problems, and navigated bureaucracies to make progress on key issues. Since moving to Petworth, I have actively engaged in the community by participating in various ANC meetings, secured a speed hump for our block, testified before DC Performance Oversight hearings, and both organized and joined litter cleanups. If elected, I would seek to bring these experiences and skills to bear as a representative of our SMD and member of the broader ANC.

I recognize that it is easy for all of us to be overwhelmed with information about what’s going on in the neighborhood and, more broadly, in the city. Similarly, plans and actions by DC government agencies and third parties might seem small or insignificant to them, but can have an outsized impact on our day to day quality of life. To enable our neighbors to have a voice and the ability to effect change in their neighborhood, I am committed to facilitating conversations and supporting our neighbors to navigate relevant processes and bureaucracies.

What are the ANC meetings?
ANC 4C meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Petworth Library. Meetings also include a hybrid option to dial in via Zoom. Meeting times, agenda, and more are available online: anc4c.com

Are you going to hold SMD meetings?
I'm committed to keeping my SMD informed of new and ongoing developments (i.e., email updates or newsletter) and creating opportunities for neighbors in the SMD to share their concerns and ask questions.

Do you attend other meetings?

Eric’s Priorities
My priorities include protecting our kids and neighbors through improved street safety. I will also advocate for city resources to address public safety concerns. Connecting neighbors with information and DC government resources, as well as representing their interests in DC government plans and decisions are core to what I would bring to the position.

Finally, I would continue to build our community through trust and shared experiences.

Editor’s Note: All content is directly from the candidates with only minor edits for simple typographical issues. All photos are from the candidates. No endorsement is implied by these articles — hopefully you learn more about the people who want to represent you. Please vote!