Phil Mendelson
Encyclopedia
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Political career
In 1998, Mendelson was elected as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to be an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia
Council of the District of Columbia
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
, and he has been reelected twice.
He has served on the board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is a regional organization of Washington area local governments. MWCOG comprises 21 local governments in the Washington Metropolitan Area, as well as area members of the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House...
and as the president of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
Mendelson has been active with District issues since 1975, when he joined the McLean Gardens
McLean Gardens
McLean Gardens is a residential neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., bounded by Rodman Street NW to the north, Idaho Avenue to the south, Wisconsin Avenue to the east, and 39th Street NW to the west....
Residents Association in the fight to save that 43 acres (174,015 m²) housing complex from destruction. He ran for a seat on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission
Advisory Neighborhood Commission
thumb|right|upright|The District of Columbia is divided into 8 wards, each of which is further divided into local ANCs.Advisory Neighborhood Commissions are bodies of local government in Washington, D.C...
in 1979 and continued to serve as an ANC Commissioner until he took office as an at-large member of the council.
Electoral history
- 1975 joined McLean Gardens Residents Association
- 1978 elected to Advisory Neighborhood CommissionAdvisory Neighborhood Commissionthumb|right|upright|The District of Columbia is divided into 8 wards, each of which is further divided into local ANCs.Advisory Neighborhood Commissions are bodies of local government in Washington, D.C...
- 1996 ran unsuccessfully for at-large member of D.C. Council
- 1998 elected at-large member of D.C. Council
- 2002 re-elected at-large member of D.C. Council
- 2006 re-elected at-large member of D.C. Council
- 2010 re-elected at-large member of D.C. Council
Committees
- Committee on Public Safety & the Judiciary – Chairperson
- Committee on Public Works and Transportation
- Committee on Human Services
- Committee on Housing and Workforce Development
- Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation
Personal life
Mendelson came to Washington from Cleveland, Ohio in 1970 to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in political science from The American University. His mother was a national crusader for nursing home reform. His grandmother had been president of the Michigan State League of Women Voters, was appointed by President Roosevelt to the federal Office of Price Administration, and was a founder of the Grand Rapids Urban League.Mendelson is divorced from Connie Ridgway. Mendelson and his ex-wife have a 10-year old daughter, Adelaide.