2024 DC Primary Candidates- Ward 4

Below are the responses from the candidates running for the Ward 4 seat in the District's 2024 Primary. The question proceeds each group of responses. Click here to view the responses for At-Large Councilmember and other races.

Candidate Janeese Lewis George is represented by JLG
Candidate Lisa Gore is represented by LG
Candidate Paul Johnson is represented by PJ

Q1: What are your plans to make the District a more livable community for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, alike?
JLG - Making our streets accessible, ensuring public transit is safe, affordable, reliable, and protecting vulnerable road users are priorities for me. Mobility options make aging in place possible. My “Safe Routes to School Act” will produce among the greatest increases in traffic safety DC has ever seen. Across Ward 4, I’ve delivered safety improvements based on input from seniors such as those at Colony House, Georgia & Farragut NW and 1300 block of Quincy Street NW.

LG - Ensuring all neighborhoods have equitable access to traffic calming improvements, maintained crosswalks, and the immediate repair of unsafe, dangerous sidewalks.

Providing aggressive oversight of transportation safety issues and the implementation

PJ - Candidate did not respond


Q2: What policies do you support to protect older District residents and their ability to safely age in a place of their choosing?
JLG - I am a big advocate for housing, especially affordable housing, and particularly deeply affordable housing for seniors. I have supported projects across Ward 4 like Karin House at Walter Reed and Riggs Crossing Senior Housing. My Green New Deal for Social Housing, will create mixed-income, deeply affordable housing. I successfully reduced rent increases in rent-controlled buildings that would have hurt seniors the most. I support continuing to limit property tax increases on seniors.

LG - Supporting community land trusts to acquire and preserve land for long-term community benefits, hereby stabilizing housing costs and ensuring long-term affordability.

Strengthen DC’s property rehabilitation programs

Increasing support for home health aides and family caregivers.

Capping late fees on utility bills. Increased property tax deductions for senior homeowners.

PJ - Candidate did not respond


Q3: What is your plan to increase access to stable, affordable, healthy food options, especially in “food deserts” located in Wards 7 and 8?
JLG - DC should provide greater incentives to traditional grocery stores to service communities in food deserts East of the River. We should work with farmers’ markets to set up regular sites in areas where residents gather such as the Congress Heights Senior Center. We must make DC’s expansion of SNAP permanent, so seniors in lower-income communities can purchase nutritious food. We also need to increase enrollment in SNAP, since currently only ½ of eligible seniors are enrolled in the program.

LG - Investing in broader public-private partnerships to engage with a broad variety of grocery chains, local businesses, farmers, and food producers to explore incentives for opening stores or markets in underserved areas.

Collaborating with non-profit organizations that focus on food security and healthy eating.

Incentivizing retailers by offering tax breaks, grants, or subsidies to supermarkets and grocery stores that open in food deserts.

PJ - Candidate did not respond


Q4: What policies would you put forth to reduce disparities among racial and ethnic groups in accessing affordable, high-quality healthcare?
JLG -The construction of a new hospital east of the river is a good start to providing high-quality healthcare to Ward 7 and 8 seniors but won’t solve the economic struggles families face or the food insecurity. I led the effort to expand SNAP benefits this year so more seniors get the food they need. DC must invest more in senior programming that. I partnered with AARP to install a FitLot outdoor exercise area at Lamond Recreation Center that is making a difference to our Ward 4 seniors.

LG - DC must implement policies that ensure all individuals, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, have access to affordable and quality healthcare services. This can include expanding Medicaid coverage, increasing funding for community health centers, and promoting tele-health services. We must also address social determinants of health, such as poverty, education, housing, and access to healthy food. By tackling these underlying factors, healthcare disparities can be reduced.

PJ - Candidate did not respond