We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser tapped outgoing Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells as the the director of the District Department of the Environment today, bringing her pending-administration closer to being a “team of rivals” composed of lots of one-time competitors. (Bowser clobbered Wells in the April Democratic mayoral primary.)
Bowser wrote in a release that the department is responsible for creating policies to protect the environment, promote sustainability, and conserve natural resources in D.C.
Wells is a natural choice for the position. His tenure as councilmember has been marked by efforts to increase public transit and cycling infrastructure in the District, and his mayoral campaign motto was “Building a Livable Walkable D.C.”
“As Tommy’s friend and colleague, I have witnessed first-hand the passion he has for conservation, clean transportation and creating a more sustainable District,” Bowser said in a release. “With Tommy’s experience and enthusiasm, we will create new and innovative policies to make the District the most environmentally-friendly city in the nation.”
Bowser has also already appointed a number of other people to her administration, including Rashad Young, Alexandria’s city manager, as her city administrator and Brenda Donald as deputy mayor for health and human services.
“Making D.C. a cleaner, more environmentally friendly city isn’t just a health issue—it’s an economic issue. I look forward to working with the mayor-elect to create greater economic opportunities for more Washingtonians while also preserving our city’s environment for generations to come,” Wells said in the release. “Having the opportunity to continue working on an issue I care so deeply about is an honor.”
Photo by Darrow Montgomery