Meet the ANC 3F candidates: Spenser H. Dettwyler, ANC 3F05

At Forest Hills Connection, we see it as our mission to demystify one corner of the ballot — the spot reserved for ANC commissioners. The advisory neighborhood commission in our coverage area is ANC 3F, and we have invited the candidates to tell us about themselves and what is compelling them to run for these unpaid, two-year public service terms.

ANC 3F is divided into six single-member districts. Today, we feature one of the two candidates in ANC 3F05.

ANC 3F05

Often, there is usually only one contested race in ANC 3F elections, and this year, it’s 3F05.

Voters in that single-member district will see Spenser H. Dettwyler and Adrian Jesus Iglesias, the incumbent, on their ballots. We will publish Iglesias’s statement when we receive it.

Here is Dettwyler’s statement:

My name is Spenser H. Dettwyler. I am an eight-year resident of the District of Columbia, and a two and a half year resident of Van Ness. I lived near Logan Circle for five years before moving here.

I love Van Ness. I love its walkability, access to transit and groceries, the restaurants here and in Cleveland Park, the weekly farmer’s market, and how close we are to Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo. Van Ness and the District of Columbia are my home.

I attended the George Washington University Law School and completed a joint-degree program, earning both my Juris Doctor and a Master’s in Public Policy. I currently work as a Staff Attorney for Quality Trust for Individuals With Disabilities, a nonprofit that focuses on improving the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There, I represent clients with disabilities, drafting documents to help them lead more independent lives. As an adult with a developmental disability, that being Autism, I greatly appreciate and enjoy the opportunity to work with people like me.

My top priorities in running for your ANC Commissioner are tenant’s rights, housing affordability, and public safety.

If you live in 3F05, chances are you rent, and chances are you live in an apartment complex. My building — 3003 Van Ness Apartments — houses nearly a third of all 3F05 residents. Oftentimes, the management of these buildings is unresponsive to tenants’ needs. Poor property management brings issues ranging from poor quality of life to serious public safety concerns. As both a resident of one such building and a member of the 3003 Van Ness South Tenants Association, I am acutely aware of these issues. As ANC, I intend to work with OAG to investigate, prosecute, and resolve the issues tenants have with property management in my community. I’ve worked with Attorney General Brian Schwalb before, and I intend to do so again.

I know I don’t have to spell out how deep our housing crisis is. We’re dealing with a housing shortage, and our rents are high because of it. As ANC, I intend to fight to use every tool in the District’s disposal to build more housing to address the shortage. I believe in an all-of-the-above approach, whether it’s social housing, market-rate housing, upzoning, designated affordable housing, or any other measure to add more homes to the District’s supply. I want 3F05, and 3F more broadly, to pull its weight getting us out of our housing shortage, and I will fight to make that happen.

Additionally, I want to make sure our streets and sidewalks are safe for pedestrians. I want to make sure people are comfortable taking a stroll alone during the day or at night, especially this time of year. I want to make sure that pedestrians feel safe crossing the street, especially the wide, six-lane street on Connecticut Avenue.

I want to hear what issues are important to you. I plan to do more canvassing and meet and greets before the election on November 3rd. Feel free to reach out to me via email at sdettwyler@gmail.com.

Don’t forget – The last day to ensure you are registered to vote is October 13th! However, same-day registration is available during early voting and on election day.

The 2026 ANC 3F candidates

3F01 – Manolis Priniotakis
3F02 – No candidate on the ballot
3F03 – Mitchell Baer
3F04 – Tosha Skolnik
3F05 – Spenser H. Dettwyler, Adrian Jesus Iglesias
3F06 – No candidate on the ballot