Janeese Lewis George
Ward 4 DC Councilmember
jlewisgeorge@dccouncil.gov • 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.
Kelly Hunt
Chief of Staff
Contact for: General inquiries, Council and Ward issues, and legislation.
Kelly serves as the Chief of Staff for Councilmember Lewis George, managing the day-to-day operations of the Council office. She has worked in various DC Council roles; primarily on legislation, policy, and oversight. Kelly has strong background in affordable housing, homelessness, and most programs related to addressing poverty. Her work has included increasing transparency of owners of vacant and blighted properties who try to hide behind LLCs, improving accountability in how taxpayer dollars are allocated for affordable housing, increasing TANF assistance for District children and families, and creating financial assistance for seniors who are struggling to pay rent or who face foreclosure of a reverse mortgage due to unpaid taxes and insurance. Kelly has a Master’s Degree from the Harvard Kennedy School. On weekends, you can find her enjoying restaurants and shops in Petworth, where she has lived since 2015.
Charnisa Royster
Deputy Chief of Staff
croyster@dccouncil.gov • 202-717-4822
Contact for: Scheduling requests, invitations, and Council office issues.
Charnisa serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Councilmember Lewis George. She is a proud DC Native who lives and grew up in Ward 4. Charnisa’s background is in office management, community engagement, and event planning. After graduating from Coolidge High School, Charnisa worked at the Young Women’s Project. Charnisa has nearly 10 years of experience working for DC Council. Prior to joining the Ward 4 office, she served as Deputy Director of Constituent Services for former At Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman. She also previously held the role of Scheduler for former At Large Councilmember David Catania. Charnisa prides herself on ensuring Council offices run smoothly and are attentive to community needs. She enjoys spending time with her family in Manor Park and fur babies.
Will Perkins
Committee Director
wperkins@dccouncil.gov • 202-316-7862
Contact for: Issues regarding the Committee on Facilities and Family Services and education.
Will serves as Committee Director of the Committee on Facilities and Family Services for Councilmember Lewis George. He also contributes to the office’s legislative work, particularly on issues involving education. 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.
Nikita Easley
Deputy Committee Director
Contact for: Issues regarding the Committee on Facilities and Family Services and legislatives issues regarding public safety and justice.
Nikita serves as Deputy Committee Director of the Committee on Facilities and Family Services. Nikita contributes to the office’s work with CFSA, DDS, and agencies under the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. Before joining the office, she previously worked with Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau and as a policy and family law attorney for survivors of domestic violence. Nikita loves to travel and lived in three countries prior to moving to DC.
Joanna Blotner
Legislative Director
jblotner@dccouncil.gov • 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.
Barbara Rogers
Community Engagement Director
brogers@dccouncil.gov • 202-288-9820
Contact for: Constituent services requests and community engagement.
Barbara Rogers serves as Community Engagement Director for Councilmember Lewis George. Barbara is a DC Native born and raised in the Shaw neighborhood, and she now resides in the Lamond-Riggs community. Barbara has a bachelor degree in Science of Accounting and over 25 years of tax preparation and accounting experience. She also has in-depth expertise communicating with federal and state agencies. Additionally, Barbara brings years of community experience as a former 2-term ANC Commissioner for 4B08 and having served as President of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (2015-2018; 2021-2023). Being the president and an executive board member of LRCA has allowed her the opportunity to plan and organize many community events. Barbara loves her community and being of service to others. She has a special place in her heart for seniors. In her free time, Barbara enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Will Singer
Senior Legislative Advisor
wsinger@dccouncil.gov • 202-724-8035
Contact for: Legislative and budget questions.
Will analyzes and writes legislation for the Ward 4 office and committee chaired by Councilmember Lewis George. He previously worked as legislative and committee staff for former Ward 4 Councilmember Adrian Fenty and served as the Mayor’s budget director during the Fenty administration. After studying law at Northwestern University, Will completed a judicial clerkship in a state appellate court and worked for 7 years in private practice focusing on municipal law and finance for local governments and nonprofits. Will is a DCPS product and now a DCPS parent living with his multi-generational family in Barnaby Woods.
James Lewis
Constituent Services Coordinator
JLewis@dccouncil.gov • 202-286-6311
Contact for: Issues related to infrastructure (DDOT, DPW); labor (DOES, Unemployment Insurance); federal Issues (National Park land, Medicare, Federal law enforcement); DOB/DLCP; utilities (DC Water, Washington Gas, PEPCO); Department of Housing and Community Development (SFRRP); the environment (DOEE), taxes (OTR, Office of the Taxpayer Advocate); MPD; and parks & recreation (DPR).
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 the Pennsylvania State House. He has lived and studied in DC since 2012 (a Catholic University Cardinal) and loves the District, its people, history, and culture — especially its food! He enjoys hiking in Rock Creek & Ft. Totten Park, discovering new restaurants and local bars, especially Andrene’s and Lyman’s, and growing tomatoes in his home garden. Jim is originally from Norristown, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. He now lives with his fiancée and their cat, Sophia, in Riggs Park.
Eskedar Girmash
Constituent Services Coordinator
egirmash@dccouncil.gov • 202-531-8320
Contact for: Issues related healthcare (DC Health, DC Health Link); public safety alternatives; housing (Tenant Advocacy, DC Housing Authority, Office of the Tenant Advocate, ERAP, HAF, LEDC); human services (Homeless Services, SNAP, Medicaid); Office of the Attorney General; senior Issues (DACL, senior housing), and DC Public Schools.
Eskedar (she/her) serves as Constituent Services Coordinator for Councilmember Lewis George. She joins the team from a background in federal health policy advocacy. Her health equity work ranged from strengthening Medicaid services, supporting reproductive justice movements, and advancing racial justice efforts. She is passionate about collectively creating a world where we are all free and cared for. This is the framework she leads with in organizing and community support work. Eskedar was born in Addis Ababa and is the youngest of four amazingly hilarious sisters. You can find her out in the community with DC Mutual Aid Apothecary, hanging at Malcolm X Park, or grabbing a new read at Loyalty Book Store.
Sebastian Weinmann
Cranch Fellow
Sebastian serves as the Cranch Fellow of the Committee on Facilities and Family Services for Councilmember Lewis George. In 2018, he graduated from The George Washington University with a B.A. political science and international affairs. During his time at GW, he was the Chief of Staff of GW College Democrats and served in the GW Student Association Executive Cabinet. He also was a fellow at the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and an intern in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2022, he graduated with a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School. At GW Law, he served in the Student Bar Association Senate, GW Student Association Senate, and was a student attorney in the GW Law Immigration Clinic and the president of the GW Immigration Law Association. He also served as a Law Clerk for Senator Patty Murray on the U.S. Senate HELP Committee.
Alex Taliadoros
Communications Director
ataliadoros@dccouncil.gov • 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.
