Jack Evans is an attorney who lives and works in Washington, DC. Jack was the Councilmember for Ward 2 from May 1991 through January 2020. From 2001-2009, Jack served as the Chair Pro Tempore (Vice Chair) of the DC Council. He is the longest-serving Councilmember in history.
At the Council, Jack served as Chair of the Committee on Finance Revenue for 20 years, which oversees the District's finances and tax policy. In addition to earning a reputation as one of DC's toughest budget and tax stewards, Jack used this Committee to secure approval of many major legislative tax reforms. Jack worked vigorously towards reducing tax rates, simplifying DC's antiquated Tax Code, promoting tax breaks for working families, and property tax relief for small businesses. His efforts resulted in a AAA bond rating for the City in 2018.
Jack also served on several standing Council committees including Economic Development and Public Safety, and the Judiciary. As a member of the Economic Development Committee, Jack brought many high-profile projects to Ward 2 and the City, including the Nationals Baseball Stadium, the Verizon Center (now Capital One Arena), The Audi Field (soccer stadium), the Mystics Arena, the Convention Center, Gallery Place, the Market at O Street project in Shaw, the Marriott Convention Center Hotel, City Center and the Wharf.
Jack was the leading supporter of the Arts on the Council. He was instrumental in increasing the budget of the Commission on the Arts and Humanities to its current level of $51,000,000. He led the efforts to fund many small arts organizations all over the City and partnered with several Mayors to fund many of our theaters, including Arena Stage, The Shakespeare Theater, Ford's Theater, Woolley Mammoth, the Studio Theater, National Theater, and many others.
As Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Jack participated in redesigning the DC Metropolitan Police Department to reduce crime. He is the architect of the 4200-member force, and his efforts led to a reduction of homicides from 500 in 1995 to 88 in 2010.
Additionally, in the early 90s, Jack served as the key architect of laws ensuring the creation of more than 2,000+ downtown housing units, authoring and working to secure passage of legislation establishing Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and PILOTs, and crafting DC's most ambitious affordable residential housing program.
Jack also served as the Council's representative to two of the region's most important entities: the Board of Directors for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) - Board Chair, 1994, 1997, and 2015 - 2019; and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) - Board Chair, 1995.
Aside from being a Councilmember, Jack's work in DC politics and organizations includes:
- Member of the Presidential Electoral College - 1992, 2004, 2016
- Delegate to the Democratic National Convention - 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020
- DC Co-Chair of Bill Clinton's Presidential Campaign -1992, 1996; Al Gore's Presidential Campaign -2000; Howard Dean's Presidential Campaign - 2004; and Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign - 2008, 2016
- Member of the DC Democratic Party and DC National Committeeman from 2018 to 2022
Jack, 70, is a native of Pennsylvania. He received an economics degree with honors (cum laude) from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1975, and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1978.
He began practicing law at the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement and was a member of several large law firms during his 45-year legal career.
Jack has three children (the triplets - Katherine, John, and Christine - age 27). Jack's wife, Noel, passed away from cancer in 2003.
Contact Email: [email protected]
Commissioner Since: January 22, 2024
Current Term Ends: June 30, 2024
