Blade: Gays challenge gays in Dupont Circle ANC races

Following is the introduction to an article that ran in today's issue of The Washington Blade on Dupont Circle ANC contested races. You can access the full article HERE. The Dupont Current also ran an article this week, but am not able to provide a link/introduction to that article. The Current for some reason only reported on the race between Cm. Ramon Estrada and Doug Rogers, and didn't report on the race between Cm. Phil Carney and Joseph Rojakovick. I'm hopeful they do a follow up article on the other contested race to provide voters more information on the candidates in our neighborhood.

From The Blade:

Gay challengers are running against gay incumbents for the only two contested seats on the nine-member Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission, with gay issues taking a back seat to the hot topic of two pending development projects.

The gays running in the Dupont Circle races are among 23 known gay candidates running for election or re-election to ANC seats throughout the city. Most are running unopposed.

Congress created the ANCs as part of the city’s home rule government in the early 1970s. They are comprised of unpaid elected officials who are charged with advising city officials and city regulatory agencies on issues of concern to neighborhoods.

ANCs don’t have specific regulatory powers, but agencies are instructed under the law to give “great weight” to their recommendations.

Long-time Dupont Circle observers have said the area’s high concentration of gay residents and gay businesses long ago brought about a harmonious mix of gays and straights. This prompted many gays to become involved in civic affairs, with some coming down on opposing sides of disputes regarding parking, noise and nightlife entertainment issues.