Because neither candidate was available for an in person candidate forum, the board of the CPCA sent them six open ended questions to answer via email to help voters decide. Their answers are below.
Isaac Bowers
Please introduce yourselves to the ANC3a community. What do you want your neighbors to know about you?
My family and I have lived in Cleveland Park for well over a decade. We have always treasured the friendly community, the closeness with our neighbors and the natural beauty of the area. We are very glad we chose to raise our two children here where they can walk to neighborhood schools and be close to their friends.
Since 2020, I have served on the board of the Cleveland Park Community Association, for the last two years as Treasurer. It has been a wonderful way to meet new friends and contribute to our neighborhood. I also believe it has given me a good sense of the needs of our community and I look forward to continuing to give back in a new role as ANC Commissioner.
What do you see as the significant issues, both current and upcoming in ANC3a?
My priorities as Commissioner are 1) ensuring public safety; 2) creating safe streets; and 3) improving housing options to make our neighborhood more attainable for all the current and future members of our community. These are all issues that the Cleveland Park Community Association has worked on that I believe continue to be important.
Are there any ward-wide or city-wide issues that are of special concern to you? How do you envision they will be ideally resolved?
The three issues I raised above are also issues ward and citywide. Large issues like these are difficult and complex, but we should work in good faith towards the ideals that everyone feels safe in our city and all the residents of our city have a home.
What ANC committee(s) do you hope to sit on and what would you bring to them?
Per the ANC’s 2023 annual report, “To date, ANC 3A has not established standing committees, special committees, or task forces as some ANCs have done, which hold discussions outside of the Commission monthly meetings, research local issues, and develop recommendations for the ANC.” As far as I know, that remains the case into 2024. That said, I would be excited to help form and participate in a public safety and/or a transportation committee.
Since Cleveland Park has now been redistricted into two ANC’s, are there any neighborhood-specific issues that you believe should be addressed by ANC3a and ANC3c cooperatively?
I believe that the ANC system work best when the ANCs work cooperatively. That said, I think Cleveland Park in particular spans both those ANC’s so matters of central importance to our community such as economic development on the commercial strips, transportation options on Connecticut and Wisconsin Avenues and public safety should certainly be addressed cooperatively.
What input, if any, do you think Councilmember Frumin’s and Mayor Bowser’s offices need to hear from ANC3a?
If the ANC system is functioning well it is voicing neighborhood concerns to the Council and the Mayor. Any issue of importance to our neighborhood on which we feel our voices are not being heard and effective action is not being taken should be raised to those levels as a matter of course.
Maria Perisic
Please introduce yourselves to the ANC3a community. What do you want your neighbors to know about you?
I’ve been living in Washington DC for 30 years, out of it on Quebec Street for 22 years. I enjoy my neighborhood and believe that I understand the issues and problems that need attention. Professionally, I have master degrees in Civil Engineering and in Business Administration and have served for twenty years with the World Bank Group encompassing a number of urban and community development projects. As a parent, I served on the Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) for Jackson-Reed HS. Additionally, I was involved with the DCPS School Food Advisory Board providing input on the implementation of the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP). I think that the communication between the people and government and other entities is important. I appreciate the role of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission and would like to contribute to its function and give back to my community.
What do you see as the significant issues, both current and upcoming in ANC3a?
The current and upcoming issues in ANC3A such as Sidwell Upper School construction, are well documented and represented on the ANC3A website. What might become an issue uppon the construction completion of the school and the beginning of its operations is the parking and the flow of transport along Quebec St, 37th street, Upton st. and the surroundings. This might also involve a need for pedestrin safety increase.
Are there any ward-wide or city-wide issues that are of special concern to you? How do you envision they will be ideally resolved?
The most important issue to me is public safety and crime. I appreciate that the MPD Second District participates in ANC3A monthly meetings and informs the public on what to pay attention to.
What ANC committee(s) do you hope to sit on and what would you bring to them?
If elected, I would discuss with other commissioners, see the needs and find where I could contribute the best with my scills and knowledge.
Since Cleveland Park has now been redistricted into two ANC’s, are there any neighborhood-specific issues that you believe should be addressed by ANC3a and ANC3c cooperatively?
If elected, I would discuss with other commisssioners and see what common ground and needs we could identify. One thing that comes in mind is for example a Tree planting program on private property and/or similar.
What input, if any, do you think Councilmember Frumin’s and Mayor Bowser’s offices need to hear from ANC3a?
If elected, I would discuss with other commissioners to see what are the top priorities and issues of our community that we would collectively think Councilmember Fruman’s and Mayor Bowser’s offices should hear.