Janeese Lewis George
Ward 4 DC Councilmember
jlewisgeorge@dccouncil.us • 202-297-0355
Janeese is honored to serve as the DC Councilmember for Ward 4. She is a third generation Washingtonian, a native of Ward 4, and a proud graduate of DC Public Schools. She grew up in a working-class family that instilled in her the importance of hard work, education, and public service. After graduating college, Janeese completed a year of service providing critical academic support to underserved students with City Year. She then earned her Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law and went on to work for Philadelphia’s first African-American District Attorney. She returned to the District to work for DC Attorney General Karl Racine as the Assistant Attorney General in the Juvenile Section of the Public Safety Division. Janeese and her husband Kyle reside in Manor Park with their puppy Sully. Janeese loves spending time with her family, reading, and mentoring.
Lenace Edwards
Chief of Staff
ledwards@dccouncil.us • 202-288-9820
Contact for: General inquiries, scheduling issues, and legislative questions.
Lenace serves as Chief of Staff for Councilmember Lewis George. In this role, she manages the office administrative, legislative, and constituent services work. Before joining the office, she worked at UNITE HERE Local 25 as the Deputy Political Director where she led the successful campaign to increase the minimum wage in Virginia. Prior to her time with Local 25, she served as Political Director for SEIU 32BJ. She spends her free time reading, watching football, and traveling.
Will Perkins
Deputy Chief of Staff
wperkins@dccouncil.us • 202-316-7862
Contact for: Legislative and budget questions, especially on education.
Will serves as Senior Policy Advisor for Councilmember Lewis George. He is part of the legislative staff responsible for oversight, reviewing items up for a vote, and helping to draft new bills. Before joining the office, he worked at the Office of the DC Auditor and as a teacher in DC Public Schools and in a DC charter school. He spends his free time riding his bike, watching sports, and taking his dog, Dobby, for long walks.
Joanna Blotner
Legislative Director
jblotner@dccouncil.us • 202-288-8985
Contact for: Legislative and budget questions.
Joanna serves as Legislative Director for Councilmember Lewis George. She brings 15 years experience in local and federal public policy advocacy to this role, including leading one of DC’s largest recent grassroots campaigns to secure paid family and medical leave for all District workers. When the city reopens, you’ll most likely find Joanna volunteering her free time as an Insect Ambassador at the Natural History Museum. In addition to managing a broad legislative portfolio for the Councilmember, she is happy to assist with all constituent concerns regarding Brood X cicadas.
Aura Cruz Heredia
Constituent Services Coordinator
ACruzHeredia@dccouncil.us • 202-812-4994
Contact for: Constituent services requests.
Aura serves as Constituent Services Coordinator for Councilmember Lewis George. She joins the team from the world of higher-education, with a background in psychology and biological sciences. She’s a fresh community organizer, and has worked with residents across Ward 4 on issues primarily relating to housing, food access, language accessibility, among others. Aura’s service philosophy centers community trust and people power — values she learned from an early age in her hometown of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Aura lives in the Petworth neighborhood and enjoys picking up new instruments, finding the best vegetarian grub in the District, and treating her house cat – Maple – like the queen that she really is.
James Lewis
Constituent Services Coordinator
JLewis@dccouncil.us • 202-286-6311
Contact for: Constituent services requests.
James, “Jim,” serves as a Constituent Services Coordinator for Councilmember Lewis George. Jim has a background in legislative, organizing, and constituent services work over the past six years in DC and in Pennsylvania. Jim has lived and studied in DC since 2012 and has grown to love the District, its people, and culture (especially its food!). He enjoys hiking in Rock Creek Park, discovering new restaurants and local bars, and growing tomatoes in his home garden. Jim is originally from Norristown, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. He now lives with his girlfriend and their cat, Sophia, in Lamond Riggs, Ward 4.
Alex Taliadoros
Communications Director
ataliadoros@dccouncil.us • 202-286-5268
Contact for: Press requests and questions related to our website, social media, and newsletter.
Alex serves as Communications Director for Councilmember Lewis George. He fields press requests, updates the office website and social media, and coordinates the Councilmember’s weekly newsletter. Prior to joining Councilmember Lewis George’s team, Alex led organizing and communications for the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, working to advance the rights of workers, immigrants, and tenants in the District. You can find Alex at your local pickup soccer game, exploring Rock Creek Park, or at a nearby folk concert.
