About BRIAN

PICTURE OF A YOUNG BRIAN FOOTER

CURIOUS FROM THE START

When I was three years old, I wandered off during a family vacation. My parents panicked until they found me perched on a bench, happily chatting with two older women I had just met. I had walked right up and started asking questions: Where are you from? Are you on vacation too? I was just genuinely curious.

I’ve always been drawn to people and their stories - to listen, to connect, to understand. That instinct has guided me my entire life. It’s the core of who I am, and it’s the foundation of this campaign.

Rooted in DC, GroundED in COMMUNITY

I’m a proud, third-generation native of the DC metro area. My parents brought me and my two siblings routinely into the city for school trips, family outings, and to see my grandparents. DC wasn’t just nearby; it was home.

I got my first real taste of public service my junior year of high school as a U.S. House Page for then House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt. I witnessed the daily rhythm of democracy up close, watched how political giants like Congresswoman Maxine Waters made decisions, and learned the importance of showing up, being prepared, and paying attention. It sparked a lasting sense of purpose to act; a belief that public service isn’t about titles, it’s about making a difference. 

My career has been shaped by showing up, listening deeply, and helping government work better for people. I managed the aging and veterans affairs portfolio for then NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, where I saw firsthand how smart, local government could make a real difference.

EXPERIENCE that meets the moment

As a three-term ANC Commissioner and Chair of ANC 1E, I’ve worked block by block to make local government work better. I’ve helped neighbors cut through red tape, fought for safer streets and parks, and ensured small businesses had a real voice in development decisions.

I have been successful because leadership means listening first, acting boldly, and following through.

FROM LISTENING TO LEADING

In 2014, I  came back home to DC to work at the Office on Aging (now the Department of Aging and Community Living) and started to do what I’ve always done best — listen. Seniors told me about the everyday obstacles they faced in their own homes: stairs that had become dangerous, bathrooms that felt risky, homes they loved but no longer felt safe in. They weren’t asking for much, just the chance to age with dignity in the places they’d built their lives.

That’s when we created Safe at Home, a citywide program that provides simple, life-changing home modifications to help seniors stay safely in their homes: grab bars, stair lifts, increased lighting, etc. Not flashy, but incredibly effective. And most importantly, it was rooted in care.

That experience taught me two things:

  1. How easily people can fall through the cracks, and

  2. How powerful it is when government shows up with purpose and compassion.

That belief that good government doesn’t just make decisions, it shows people they matter is what drives me to run for Council.

I’m running for DC Council to bring leadership that listens first, acts boldly, and follows through to Ward 1. We need a new vision for our community, one rooted in trust, equity, and connection.

This campaign is about action:

  • I’ll fight to make housing in Ward 1 more affordable and keep people rooted in the neighborhoods they love.

  • I’ll support our small businesses and fight to bring in new ones that reflect our community’s diversity and energy.

  • I’ll invest in public safety strategies that are smart, compassionate, and effective.

  • I’ll push for a local government that feels present, responsive, and rooted in trust.

We’re building a new kind of coalition — longtime residents and new arrivals, renters and homeowners, progressives and moderates — all united by the belief that Ward 1 can work better for everyone.

A NEW VISION FOR WARD 1

A movement to win!

This campaign isn’t just about me. It’s about the kind of community we want to build for our kids, for our elders, and for each other. It’s about who city leaders answer to, which voices we lift up, what priorities we fund, and how we prepare the next generation. It’s about honoring our history, protecting our autonomy, and making sure local government is efficient, effective, and compassionate.

If you’re ready for a Councilmember who listens, understands the problems, brings people together, and solves problems together, then join me.

I’m ready to lead Ward 1, not by pushing an ideology or with an ego but with empathy and results.

A man speaking at a microphone during a public hearing, with a clock, decorative wall, and partial view of other people in the room. The image caption mentions the Council of the District of Columbia Committee on Business & Economic Development.

A RECORD OF Results

  • Brian Footer has built a track record of delivering for Ward 1—block by block, budget by budget, neighbor by neighbor.

  • Founder of Safe at Home, a citywide program helping thousands of DC seniors age in place with free, life-saving home modifications

  • Three-term ANC Commissioner (LeDroit Park/Howard) and current Chair of ANC 1E (Park View, Pleasant Plains, Howard), where he’s led on transparency, accessibility, and responsiveness in local government

  • Secured over $2 million in city investments:

    • $1.2M for upgrades to KC Lewis Park—new playground, basketball courts, and field improvements—after a year-long community engagement effort

    • $750K to redevelop the field at The Park at LeDroit, in collaboration with Councilmember Nadeau

  • Delivered community greening efforts, partnering with the LeDroit Civic Association and Casey Trees to secure and plant 40 new trees with 90+ volunteers

  • Led the 8th Street Transportation Plan, working with over 100 residents, conducting site assessments, collecting formal feedback, and applying DDOT standards to improve safety, cleanliness, and design

  • Organized public safety and infrastructure forums, bringing together MPD, DDOT, and residents to tackle neighborhood issues head-on

  • Pushed for equitable development, ensuring community voices shaped major projects like the Bond Bread redevelopment

  • Supported neighbors directly, helping residents and businesses access permits, city services, and housing programs like SFRRP

  • Hosted community walks with Mayor Bowser and Councilmember Nadeau, bringing visibility to on-the-ground concerns

  • Served as Secretary of the LeDroit Park Civic Association, expanding membership, strengthening communications, and hosting events that built local pride

  • Advanced community-led planning through surveys, cleanups, and one-on-one meetings that shaped real policy and budget decisions

  • Built cross-ward coalitions, uniting renters and homeowners, students and seniors, small business owners and longtime residents around shared priorities for a safer, more inclusive Ward 1

education

  • Master of Public Administration
    Concentration in Public Finance & Financial Management
    New York University

  • Bachelor of Arts
    Political Science and Pre-Law
    Ohio University

  • Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
    Project Management Institute

PROFESSIONAL
experiences

Brian has worked at every level of government—federal, state, and local—building a career rooted in public service, aging policy, and inclusive urban planning.

He currently serves as a healthcare consultant, where he’s led national efforts to improve nursing home staff competencies, implement bundled payment models, and support federal programs like the No Surprises Act through human-centered design and evaluation frameworks.

Previously, Brian was Director of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation at the D.C. Office on Aging, where he:

  • Created the Safe at Home program, helping thousands of seniors age in place safely.

  • Launched the District’s first Senior Village Guide and organized regular peer learning exchanges across all 13 senior villages.

  • Co-chaired Age-Friendly DC’s Community Support domain, leading coordination on 14 home- and community-based care initiatives.

Before returning to DC, Brian served in New York City government, including as:

  • Legislative Policy Analyst for the City Council’s Aging and Veterans Affairs Committees, where he:

    • Convened a Veterans Task Force that led to public hearings and evaluations of NYC’s mental health services for veterans.

    • Advocated successfully to preserve care at a Queens V.A. hospital.

    • Helped launch Age-Friendly NYC initiatives like the CityBench Program, which installed 500+ accessible benches citywide.

  • LGBT Political Coordinator for Christine Quinn’s mayoral campaign, building community coalitions and managing LGBTQ+ outreach strategy.

A French Bulldog wearing a birthday party hat, holding an ice cream cone in its paw, sitting on a dark gray couch.

FUN FACTS*

*as compiled by his closest friends!

  • He’s a really good listener — even to Derek (his partner)

  • He’s a dog dad, a plant dad, and tells terrible dad jokes (ok occasionally they’re funny)

  • He’s lived in three Ward 1 neighborhoods

  • He’s always in a good mood (yeah he’s one of those people)

  • He makes a mean espresso martini

  • He used to play Stonewall Kickball

  • He’s great at making lists - he has a list for everything.

  • He cares, like for real. It’s the best thing about being friends with Brian!