Janeese Lewis George
Ward 4 DC Councilmember
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 son Pierce James and their puppy Sully. Janeese loves spending time with her family, reading, and mentoring.
Candace Tiana Nelson
Chief of Staff
Contact for: General inquiries, Council and Ward issues, and legislation.
Candace Tiana Nelson serves as the Chief of Staff for Councilmember Janeese Lewis George. She manages the day‑to‑day operations of the office, the staff, and Stakeholder Relations. Ms. Nelson has been a public servant for many years, serving in leadership roles pertaining to community outreach, legislation, operations, policy, and performance management responsibilities at the Department of Small and Local Business Development, the Executive Office of the Mayor, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Employment Services, and the Department of Health Care Finance. Her performance and project management expertise led to details at both the Workforce Investment Council and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity. Additionally, she was appointed and served as the Transition Director and Chief of Staff for the District of Columbia’s 2022 Attorney General Transition, shepherding out the Racine Administration while ushering in the Schwalb Administration and submitting a 233‑page Transition Memo with an 88‑page appendix.
She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a graduate of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School’s Peace and Conflict Resolution – Policy of Decision‑Making Fellowship at George Mason University.
Jenn Kauffman
Senior Policy Advisor
jkauffman@dccouncil.gov • 202-322-6894
Contact for: Issues related to labor, health, human services, and public safety.
Jenn serves as the Senior Policy Advisor for Councilmember Lewis George, advising on labor, health, human services, and other policy matters. Before joining the office, she worked for labor unions and nonprofits as an advocate for labor protections, immigrants’ rights, paid family leave, and tax justice policy. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism with a major in public relations, a Master of Science in Labor Studies, and is completing her Master of Public Health degree. Jenn is a proud resident of Ward 4 and serves as an ANC Commissioner in 4D.
Sebastian Weinmann
Committee Director
sweinmann@dccouncil.gov • 202-812-4994
Contact for issues regarding the Committee on Facilities.
Sebastian serves as the Committee Director of the Committee on Facilities. His portfolio includes issues related to facilities, parks and recreation, and disability rights and services. He joined the Committee in February 2023 as a William Cranch Fellow and then served as a Legislative Assistant and Deputy Committee Director. Previously, he served as a Law Clerk on the U.S. Senate HELP Committee. He holds a B.A. in political science and international affairs and a J.D.
Nicholas (Nico) Pcholkin
Legislative Director
npcholkin@dccouncil.gov • 202-655-0537
Contact for issues relating to education, economic development, public works, and other legislative inquiries.
Nicholas (Nico) Pcholkin serves as Legislative Director for Councilmember Lewis George. Nico is a DC Native and former DCPS student. He previously worked as Senior Legislative Assistant for At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson. Prior to his time at the Council, he was a middle school teacher and former Teach For America corps member. He holds a B.A. in history and political science from the University of Toronto and an M.A in policy from Georgetown University. When he is not working, he is reading, writing, or watching/playing sports.
Emily Near
Legislative Assistant
enear@dccouncil.gov • 202-374-4058
Contact for issues relating to housing, environment, and transportation.
Emily serves as Legislative Assistant for Councilmember Lewis George, supporting primarily on housing, environment, and transportation, as well as other policy matters. She previously worked at housing nonprofits as an advocate and tenant organizer, supporting District residents in exercising their rights under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, helping renters access vital supportive services such as the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, and supporting on the development of and advocacy for strong housing policy for District residents. She holds a B.A. in Feminist Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending her time reading, sharing meals with friends, and camping.
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.
Kristian Smith
Constituent Services Coordinator
kasmith@dccouncil.gov • 202-538-4029
Contact for constituent services requests.
Kristian serves as Constituent Services Coordinator for Councilmember Lewis George. He is a native Washingtonian born and raised in the Columbia Heights area. Kristian graduated from Lafayette College with a degree in Urban Design and Architectural Studies, going on to complete the Career Discovery summer program at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design in 2013. He has acquired over a decade of experience in customer service and home furnishings, engaging with customers and creating relationships to guide solutions and resolve issues. Kris is a pizza enthusiast and is constantly hunting for the best local spots.
Darrell Whitmyer
Constituent Services Specialist
DWhitmyer@dccouncil.gov • 202-286-6311
Contact for constituent services requests.
Darrell Whitmyer serves as Constituent Services Specialist for Councilmember Lewis George. Darrell is a DC Native raised in the Brightwood Park area, and attended Truesdell EC, Capital City PCS, and graduated from Roosevelt HS. Darrell is passionate about providing excellent customer service and brings this experience to his work every day. Prior to joining the Council, he spent the 5 years in the role of dedicated General Manager with various food locations, bringing smiles, great community, and great food to residents throughout the DMV area. His experience partnering with George Washington University, Howard University, Catholic University, and many other prestigious institutions across DC has also shown Darrell how important community involvement can be. In his free time, Darrell loves to read, watch sports, and enjoys gaming. You’re likely to find him at Dave & Buster’s or Capitol Hill Books!
La'Prea Holton
Special Assistant/Scheduler
Lholton@dccouncil.gov • 202-315-8021
Contact for scheduling requests.
La’Prea Holton serves as a Special Assistant/Scheduler for Councilmember Lewis George. She was born and raised in Ward 4, La’Prea is a proud product of DC Public Schools and a dedicated public servant with over 17 years of experience in District government. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and has served in a variety of roles across several DC Government agencies, including the University of the District of Columbia, , DC Lottery, and the Office of Financial Operation Systems (OFOS), before joining the DC Council.
She also spent two years with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where she transitioned from Office Administrator to a leadership role in Facilities. There, she became a certified Project Manager and a certified Contracting Officer’s Representative, further expanding her expertise in government operations.
Throughout her career, La’Prea has worked extensively as an Executive Assistant and Office Administrator, always bringing a passion for organization, efficiency, and people-centered service. She currently resides in Ward 4 with her family and finds joy in spending time with loved ones, enjoying a good crab feast, and indulging in a bit of retail therapy. Most of all, she loves helping others and making a positive impact in her community.
Ben Rosenfeld
Communications Director
brosenfeld@dccouncil.gov • 202-286-5268
Contact for press inquiries
Ben Rosenfeld serves as the Communications Director for Councilmember Lewis George. Prior to joining the team, Ben worked on the U.S. Senate campaign of Congressman Adam Schiff and on MSNBC’s Velshi and Alex Witt Reports. He has also worked as a community organizer for Michigan Liberation in Macomb County, Michigan, working on criminal justice reform and harm reduction issues. Ben graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Public Policy and is a die-hard Wolverines sports fan. In his free time, Ben loves spending time outdoors and trying new food around D.C.
