Alexander M. Padro is executive director of Shaw Main Streets, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the 7th and 9th Street commercial corridors in Shaw. The 41-year-old local historian and former book publishing industry executive, Padro is a New York City native and graduate of New York University (BA, Journalism) who moved to Washington in 1994 to work for a local publisher.

Although he spent most of his life in New York, the decision to move to Washington was an easy one. "I’ve always loved Washington, since the first time I came here as a child," Alex remembers. "I remember being in awe of the Capitol and the monuments on the Mall. DC was (and is) so beautiful. My parents remember my asking them, "Why can’t we move here?" It was only a matter of time before I made this city my home."

Why did Alex decide to live in Shaw? "I chose to live in Shaw because of its ethnic diversity," he explains. "It felt like home. I grew up in upper Manhattan, attending public schools where every skin color, nationality, and religion were represented. I also chose Shaw because it offers so many of the conveniences of city life: public transportation, a supermarket within walking distance, a library. We can even walk to museums, live theater, and sporting events from here. I also chose to live here because housing was affordable, and because of the neighborhood’s rich history."

Why did Alex decide to run for ANC commissioner? "I was very frustrated by the lack of representation we suffer from here," he recalls. "We don’t have voting rights in Congress, but we do have an Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Unfortunately, that institution has been so ineffective in recent years that it might as well not have existed. I became involved when I was asked to help the ANC with the battle to get our new historic district named "Shaw," which after six month’s hard work, we won. But that experience showed me that the problem with the ANC was that it didn’t just need help from the outside, but needed reform from the inside. When the ANC allowed a homeless drop-in shelter to be established in a storefront on Seventh Street without consulting the neighbors, it became clear that the commission was out of control.

"I knew that I had to try to solve the problems from within or join everyone else who had long since given up on the ANC. That’s why I decided to run for the ANC 2C01 seat."

What does Alex hope to accomplish as our ANC commissioner? "I want to help make our neighborhood more liveable, get our neighborhood's fair share of the services and improvements our tax dollars pay for, and attract the kinds of businesses that will make our community an even better place to live, work, and raise families. I want to help maintain our diversity. I want residents to feel empowered, to know that their voices will be heard when decisions are made on their behalf. I take the responsibilities of public office very seriously. The ANC seat is an unpaid position with a lot of hard work behind it. But it's proving to be one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had."

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