Gordon-Andrew Fletcher to run for Ward 5 council seat in 2022

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Gordon-Andrew Fletcher filed to run for the Ward 5 council seat in the 2022 primaries. The seat is currently held by Kenyan R. McDuffie. (Courtesy of Marcus Robinson)

Gordon-Andrew Fletcher, a commissioner for the Advisory Neighborhood Commission who chairs the Ward 5 Democrats, is running for the Ward 5 D.C. Council seat.

Fletcher filed his paperwork to run in the 2022 primary on Tuesday for the seat currently held by Council Member Kenyan R. McDuffie (D).

Fletcher, a professor of justice and public policy at American University’s School of Public Affairs, is serving his third term as ANC commissioner in North Michigan Park and Fort Totten. He is originally from Jamaica and has lived in the District for 19 years.

“I want to unify the ward,” Fletcher said in an interview. “The ward needs a leader who is certain that he or she wants to lead, and I want to be the voice and the advocate through listening.”

McDuffie, who has served on the council since 2012, has not yet filed paperwork for reelection. He did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

In addition, two candidates have declared their intentions to run in the District’s mayoral Democratic primary — local comedian Rodney “Red” Grant and James Butler, who ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2018 against Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D). Barbara Summers has declared her candidacy as an independent.