Candidate Profile: Deirdre Brown For Ward 3 DC City Council Seat

WASHINGTON, DC — Palisades resident Deirdre Brown is a 30-year-old title company owner, who has three adult daughters and two school-age sons.

Brown is on the ballot for the June 21 Democratic Party Primary. She's running against eight other candidates to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat on the D.C. City Council: Henry Z Cohen, Tricia Duncan, Beau Finley, Eric Goulet, Ben Bergmann, Matthew Frumin, Monte Monash and Phil Thomas. The winner will square off against Republican David Krucoff in the Nov. 8 general election.

Patch has asked each of the candidates running in select races to fill out a questionnaire, sharing facts about themselves and why voters should choose them to represent their party in November.

Name

Deirdre Brown

Campaign website

Deirdre Brown for Ward 3

DC Neighborhood

Palisades

Office sought

City Council, Ward 3

Party affiliation

Democratic

Education

Juris Doctor from UDC David A Clarke School of Law

Occupation

Title Company Owner

Family

Parent of three adult daughters and two school age sons.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

50 years old

Previous public office, appointive or elective Former ANC Commissioner for 3F04
Why are you seeking this office?

As a native Washingtonian and longtime Ward 3 resident, I decided to run because the way we’ve done things in the past has worked for some, but not for all. Ward 3 residents can be a leader for forward-thinking, pragmatic policies that move the City forward. As your next Councilmember, I will further build upon the great things we’ve accomplished and be there to support our entire community.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is housing accessibility, and this is what I intend to do about it. As the Ward 3 Councilmember I will advocate and support legislation that will bring affordable housing units to Ward 3 that include units large enough for growing families, seniors and workforce housing. We can accomplish this goal by using all options available to us including social housing, community land trust, tax incentives and expansion of accessory dwelling units. We need to look at under utilized spaces as opportunities to create mixed use housing near where constituents work and near public transportation.

What is your position on DC statehood?

I am a supporter of DC statehood. District residents deserve to have voting representation in Congress, full control over our criminal justice system and the right to pass laws without congressional approval.

How would you address the problem of gun violence in the District?

As recent crime report stated that a relatively small group of identifiable people are resonsible for the vast majority of the District's gun violence. Once we are able to identify these individuals we can provide services such as violence interrupters and credible messengers. Prevention is the key to getting the gun violence numbers down.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the only candidate running in the Ward 3 Councilmember race that has all of the pieces of the puzzle - not just a few. As a parent of students that have graduated from Ward 3 schools as well as being a current parent I understand the challenges that parents are facing. As a graduate of UDC David A Clarke School of Law, I have the social justice background needed to lead from a place of equity and inclusion. As a housing advocate I fought for and will continue to fight for housing for all Ward 3 residents. As a small business owner in Ward 3, I understand the unique struggles of small business owners. It is more important than ever that the Ward 3 Councilmember represent all residents of the ward and not just a few in a select few neighborhoods. My background demonstrates that I am that leader.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

N/A

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Education is the key to a healthy and vibrant community. We know that poverty and crime are linked. It is important that we are providing each student what is needed for them to succeed. As the Ward 3 Councilmember I will actively address over crowding in our schools. I will support and protect our special education students. We know that college is not the best option for all students this is why I support the investment in work force development and vocational training in high schools. Post COVD, it is important that we fund school based health and wrap around services. And we must support our teachers so that they earn livebale wages and want to continue to teach in our schools.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have spent over a decade working in the community helping District residents. My passion for advocacy and calling as a change agent was developed and shaped by my experiences at the law school where I worked 727 law clinic hours defending and advocating for residents. In law school, I interned for two Superior Court judges and the Office of Administrative Hearings Rental Housing Division. As a part of my legal education, I represented tenants in the Landlord and Tenant Court of the Superior Court under the Law Students in Court Program, represented parents in the Family Court of the Superior Court, delivered oral arguments before the DC Court of Appeals, and worked on deportation defense cases for detainees before the Board of Immigration Appeal.

As ANC Commissioner, I met with many of the seniors, families, and business owners in my Single Member District (SMD) and collaborated with the other members of the ANC to deliver solutions. I was a member of the Soapstone and Melvin Hazen Parks and Trails Sub-Committee, now known as the Parks and Watershed Committee, where I gained perspective and insight concerning the environmental issues effecting Ward 3. I was appointment to Mayor Bowser’s Homicide Elimination Task Force as an ANC appointee which gave me the experience needed to develop solutions to public safety concerns and knowledge of how shared those issues are throughout the city.

As a housing advocate I have advocated to the Council and testified in hearings on policies that impact homeownership and housing accessibility. I believe that education is the key to homeownership and that is why as a title company owner I dedicate at least one Saturday a month to provide free home buying workshops. I am a seasoned, pragmatic leader that understands what it means to lead from a place of equity and inclusion.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My Catholic faith teaches me that we must do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This moral compass is what guides me. I try to help people in the same vein and with the vigor that I would for myself or my family. I consider and treat all Ward 3 residents as my neighbor regardless of their religion, socio-economic status or race.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

All of these lived experiences give me a unique, pragmatic, and fresh perspective on how to move Ward 3 forward and bring our communities together.

Related:

Candidate Profile: Ben Bergmann For Ward 3 DC City Council Seat

Candidate Profile: Tricia Duncan For DC City Council In Ward 3

Candidate Profile: Beau Finley For DC City Council In Ward 3

Candidate Profile: Matthew Frumin For DC City Council In Ward 3

Candidate Profile: Monte Monash For City Council In Ward 3

Candidate Profile: Phil Thomas For Ward 3 DC City Council Seat