Terry Lynch
Ward 1 Councilmember — Democratic Primary, June 16, 2026
Participating in DC Fair Elections Program ✓Terry Lynch (age 66) has lived in DC since 1977 and in Mt. Pleasant for 40 years. A Georgetown University alumnus, he began his career running homeless shelters alongside Mitch Snyder and Carol Fennelly at CCNV, then went on to found Calvary Women's Services — a shelter specifically for homeless women. He co-founded the Washington Area Community Investment Fund, which provides financing for affordable housing, small business development, and community services. In the 1990s he was an early advocate for zoning reform that brought housing, retail, and arts to downtown DC — work he undertook alongside future endorser Bill Lightfoot. He served on Mayor Williams' Library Task Force, as a PTA officer introducing sports and activities to DC schools, and as DC State Sports Commissioner, enhancing youth athletics citywide. In 2020 he donated a kidney at the Mayo Clinic. Lynch runs what he describes as a "person by person" campaign — not one of endorsements by special interest groups but by residents and the small, minority, and women-owned businesses of Ward 1 he says he's spent decades serving. Endorsers include Miss Pixie's, Fleet Feet, The Raven, Bukom Cafe, Dos Gringos, and Tamashaa. His civic activism has earned him the title "most annoying man in DC" from Washingtonian; he reportedly submits 20,000–25,000 311 requests per year through daily walks across all eight wards. His campaign was originally triggered by outgoing Councilmember Brianne Nadeau's opposition to the RFK stadium deal, which Lynch called "the absolute last straw" given the construction and permanent jobs it would create. His platform focuses on quality-of-life: cleaner streets, keeping small businesses open, parking enforcement (he wants Zone 1 restrictions extended to 24/7 and immediate towing authority for violators), better city services, expanded parks and rec spaces, senior services, and more youth programming. He has publicly called on the Attorney General to conduct a top-to-bottom overhaul of MPD, citing concerns about use-of-force with youth and DC police cooperating with federal agents to detain residents.
Endorsements (6)
Elected/Appointed Officials
- Bill Lightfoot, former DC Councilmember and chair of Bowser/Fenty mayoral campaigns
- Fr. Ray Kemp, former DC School Board member and longtime pastor of St. Augustine's
- Sandra Seegars, Ward 8 ANC Commissioner
- Frank Agbro, Mt. Pleasant community leader and former ANC Commissioner
Individuals & public figures
- Carol Fennelly, homeless and prison reform activist
- Pat Patrick, former Adams Morgan Business Association President
Positions on the issues
All positions are sourced directly from the candidate's campaign materials, official questionnaire responses, or verified news coverage. Stances are rated on a scale from Strongly opposes (−2) to Strongly supports (+2). A stance of Unknown means no public position has been found.
DC should adopt a social housing model — publicly owned, mixed-income housing.
Prefers targeting vacant and blighted properties over building new social housing stock. Wants a 'use it or lose it' policy to reclaim properties not restored within 3 years.
Sources: [Meet the candidates running to represent Ward 1 — The 51st]
DC should increase funding for the Department of Parks and Recreation, including extended rec center hours and expanded youth and senior programming.
Campaign platform explicitly includes 'Protect and Expand Parks and Recreational Spaces' and 'Seek More After-School and Weekend Activities For Youth' as priorities, but provides no specific funding commitments or program proposals. In his DC for Democracy questionnaire he 'strongly support[s] after school programs for arts, academics and athletics for students,' drawing on his work as a DC State Sports Commissioner who helped bring lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, and field hockey to DCPS schools.
Sources: [The Issues — Terry Lynch for DC], [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
DC should cut taxes and fees on small and local businesses — and offer relief such as the small retailer property tax credit — to help them open, survive, and grow.
Runs as the candidate of Ward 1's small, minority, and women-owned businesses, dozens of which have endorsed him. Pledges to 'help them stay open and thrive' and to stop the loss of small businesses, citing 'over-regulation, loss of parking, rising costs' as the key challenges — emphasizing reduced regulatory burden more than tax cuts specifically.
Sources: [The Issues — Terry Lynch for DC]
DC should respond to Trump administration interference in city governance with an assertive, public stance — filing lawsuits, passing protective legislation, and refusing to comply with unlawful federal directives — rather than quiet diplomacy or pragmatic deal-making.
Has publicly called on the Attorney General to conduct a top-to-bottom overhaul of MPD, citing concerns about DC police cooperating with federal agents to detain residents. Opposes MPD/federal cooperation on accountability grounds, though his platform focuses on community policing reform rather than broader political resistance to the Trump administration. In his DC for Democracy questionnaire he said he has 'often spoken public[ly] against federal actions under the current president — from DOGE cuts, to [the] federal shutdown, to how the surge was implemented' and that standing up to those federal impacts on families 'must be a first priority' as a Councilmember.
Sources: [The Issues — Terry Lynch for DC], [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
DC should build more protected bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes.
At the Bike, Walk & Bus PAC transportation forum he supported completing Ward 1's bike network by acting as a 'fair broker' — getting neighbors, businesses, ANCs, and DOT to the table — and rides the 14th Street and Columbia Road protected bike lanes himself. In the lightning round he backed automatic traffic-enforcement cameras on dangerous corridors with the revenue funding biking, walking, and bus infrastructure, and prioritizing sidewalk repairs in school zones over driver convenience. His overriding transportation priority, though, is enforcement against dangerous drivers (cars, mopeds, and e-bikes), which he calls the biggest threat to safety.
Sources: [Ward 1 Council Candidate Forum on Transportation (Bike, Walk & Bus PAC)]
DC buses should be fare-free for all riders.
At the Bike, Walk & Bus PAC forum he opposed universal fare-free buses, arguing fares should be income-based: 'I'm middle class — I should not get free bus fare… I should pay for what the cost actually is.' Open to exploring reduced or even free fares for lower-income riders and students, but rejects free buses for all riders, stressing the District must 'be very savvy budget-wise' so transit spending doesn't crowd out youth after-school programs.
Sources: [Ward 1 Council Candidate Forum on Transportation (Bike, Walk & Bus PAC)]
DC should legalize apartments and 'missing-middle' housing (duplexes, triplexes, and small multifamily buildings) citywide by removing single-family-only zoning restrictions.
At the Bike, Walk & Bus PAC forum he was a strong voice for transit-oriented development, recalling how in the early 1990s he helped write the code and argued at the Zoning Commission to require housing across 90 downtown blocks ('the best thing getting housing above transit and metro in downtown in the last 50 years'). Pledged to bring 'at least 5,000 more units' to Ward 1 and to revitalize Georgia Avenue, U Street, and 14th Street with mixed-use density. Strongly pro-supply and pro-density near transit, though framed around corridor revitalization rather than explicitly ending single-family zoning.
Sources: [Ward 1 Council Candidate Forum on Transportation (Bike, Walk & Bus PAC)]
DC should expand permanent supportive housing and 'Housing First' services to address homelessness, rather than relying on clearing encampments.
Lynch began his career running homeless shelters with Mitch Snyder and Carol Fennelly of CCNV and founded Calvary Shelter for Homeless Women, and is endorsed by longtime homeless-services advocates. His record reflects a deep commitment to homeless services and supportive shelter, aligning with a services-first rather than enforcement-first approach, though his materials emphasize shelter provision over a specific Housing First policy. In his DC for Democracy questionnaire he noted he has 'operated homeless programs for over 40 years,' and argued 'the key to addressing homelessness is having effective drug treatment programs and mental health services with wrap around social services' — without which 'persons will become homeless even when placed into housing.'
Sources: [Terry Lynch for DC Council — Campaign Website], [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
DC should restore and strengthen TOPA (the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act) to give tenants the right to purchase their building before it's sold to an outside buyer.
In his DC for Democracy questionnaire Lynch wrote: 'I oppose the watering down of TOPA rights. I would restore those removed and especially close loopholes that I believe will allow large Housing Trusts to snap up affordable housing in the Ward and give large real estate companies a controlling share of the affordable housing stock.' Unequivocal support for restoring and strengthening TOPA.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
DC should expand rent stabilization to cover more housing, including buildings constructed after 1975.
In his DC for Democracy questionnaire Lynch said 'we also must strengthen rent control and vigorously take on rat infestation / mold / safety issues forcing many residents out of their homes in the Ward.' Brief but clear support for strengthening rent stabilization.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
MPD should not assist ICE or other federal agencies in immigration enforcement operations within DC.
In his DC for Democracy questionnaire Lynch wrote that he 'would speak out consistently against any MPD collaboration with ICE,' and that 'any time collaboration is suspected it needs to be investigated / highlighted and made public' — a role he calls critical for the Councilmember position. Unequivocally opposes MPD cooperation with ICE.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
Hiring significantly more MPD officers is a priority for reducing crime in DC.
Lynch's DC for Democracy questionnaire emphasizes effectiveness over headcount: he wants 'better police deployment and performance (such as visible foot patrols),' police who 'walk their beats to get to know and be friends / partners with residents,' and aggressive oversight of DPW and MPD, arguing that 'effective fulfillment of current jobs' would significantly reduce crime. He stresses existing agencies performing their duties (especially parking enforcement) rather than hiring significantly more officers; recorded as mixed.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
Any youth curfew must be paired with substantial investment in alternative programming — jobs, recreation centers, mental health services — for young people.
In his DC for Democracy questionnaire Lynch 'strongly support[s] after school programs for arts, academics and athletics,' citing his record as a DC State Sports Commissioner and PTA officer who launched lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, and field hockey in DC schools. He frames youth programming and 'life skills garnered from team sporting activities' as central, aligning with pairing any enforcement with robust youth investment.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
DC should implement a comprehensive citywide rodent control program — including replacing standard trash containers with rodent-proof bins — to address the District's chronic rat infestation.
In his DC for Democracy questionnaire Lynch pledged to 'vigorously take on rat infestation / mold / safety issues forcing many residents out of their homes in the Ward.' A quality-of-life-focused 311 power-user, he supports aggressive action against the District's chronic rodent problem.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
DC should expand subsidized childcare into a universal program — available to all DC residents regardless of income — building on the Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP).
In his DC for Democracy questionnaire Lynch said he 'support[s] working with stakeholders to identify funds for making child care more affordable for all.' Supportive of broad childcare affordability, though without specifying a universal subsidy structure.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
DC should raise taxes on large corporations and the wealthiest residents to close the District's budget gap.
In his DC for Democracy questionnaire Lynch wrote: 'I support new taxes on the wealthiest corporations and individuals. I support increased taxes on properties that sit vacant and blighted often owned by deep pocketed interests.' Clear, affirmative support for raising taxes on the wealthy and large corporations.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
DC should strengthen worker protections — expanding paid family and medical leave and raising the minimum wage — even if it raises costs for employers.
In his DC for Democracy questionnaire Lynch stated 'I support the will of the vote[r]s on I-82' — backing the full minimum wage for tipped workers that DC voters approved, which the Council later capped. He also called the TANF cuts and elimination of Alliance health insurance 'disastrous' and said funding 'must be found' to continue them. Supportive of strengthening worker protections.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
DC should end mayoral control of DC Public Schools and return authority to an elected State Board of Education.
Reverse-coded question (the statement favors ending mayoral control). In his DC for Democracy questionnaire Lynch explicitly 'support[s] Mayoral control of the schools,' arguing that under the prior elected School Board 'no one was ever responsible for missing supplies, falling down buildings and lacking programs,' whereas mayoral control creates 'a direct line of command' and accountability. As a former PTA officer he says he 'could never ever get that when there was a School Board.' Strongly opposes returning to an elected board.
Sources: [DC for Democracy 2026 DC Council Questionnaire — Terry Lynch]
General sources
- The Issues — Terry Lynch for DC — Terry Lynch Campaign. Accessed 2026-05-30.
- Terry Lynch for DC Council — Campaign Website — Terry Lynch Campaign. Accessed 2026-05-30.
- Meet the candidates running to represent Ward 1 — The 51st — The 51st. Accessed 2026-05-27.
- Ward 1 candidates helped clean Columbia Heights — El Tiempo Latino — El Tiempo Latino. Accessed 2026-05-28.
- Ward 1 Council Candidate Forum on Transportation (Bike, Walk & Bus PAC) — DC Bike, Walk & Bus PAC. Accessed 2026-06-03.