Gloria Nauden has lived in Ward 6 for over 30 years. She has raised her family here, built her career here, and served the community as an ANC Commissioner and nonprofit and business leader. She is running for DC Council because she knows how to bring people together, solve problems, and make city government work for Ward 6. Her focus is clear: safer communities, a more affordable Ward 6, strong small businesses and schools, and a government that delivers.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Public safety starts with trust, consistency, and a system that works. Everyone in Ward 6 should feel safe — at home, on the street, and on Metro. That means a fully staffed Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with officers who are visible and engaged in the community.
Public safety also requires prevention, opportunity, and clear expectations. Gloria has worked directly with DC students, connecting them to internships, mentorship, and workforce opportunities, and has seen how much that matters. When young people have real pathways, along with structure, support, and clear and consistent standards, they succeed.
In response to recent “Teen Takeover” incidents, Gloria launched Spring Break Community Service Week, bringing together local partners to connect students with workforce exposure, civic engagement, and service. At the same time, accountability matters. When people break the law, there need to be clear and appropriate consequences. Serious crimes require serious responses, and repeat offenses must be addressed.
Gloria will:
Rebuild MPD to full staffing levels and strengthen community policing
Improve coordination across public safety agencies
Expand youth workforce programs and early intervention efforts
Support community-based violence prevention
Effective leadership shows up early, not just after something goes wrong.
Affordability & Housing
The cost of living in Ward 6 is putting real pressure on families.
Too many residents are feeling squeezed and unsure how long they can afford to stay. Families are being priced out, seniors are struggling to remain in their homes, and young people do not see a path to stay in the community. Costs are rising across the board — housing, childcare, groceries, and everyday expenses — and Ward 6 already has some of the highest rents in the city. Rising utility bills are adding another layer of strain, with residents seeing increases without clear answers. That’s not acceptable.
Families shouldn’t have to guess what’s driving their costs.
Gloria will push for greater transparency and stronger oversight, including a closer look at rising utility costs. She brings experience in banking, economic development, and public-private partnerships, and has seen what it takes to make systems work for residents. As ANC Commissioner, she saw how these decisions impact communities block by block.
Gloria will:
Expand affordable housing and homeownership opportunities
Protect residents from displacement and rising costs
Ensure new development includes real affordability
Use partnerships to bring more housing online
Increase transparency around rising costs, including utilities
Pause utility increases where appropriate until residents have clear answers
Affordability is about stability and the ability to build a future in Ward 6.
Community: Small Businesses & Schools
Small businesses and schools are the backbone of Ward 6.
Gloria has helped more than 1,000 DC small businesses survive and grow and has worked directly with entrepreneurs navigating real challenges. Today, businesses are facing rising costs, vacant storefronts, and struggling corridors, and too many feel they are not getting the support they need.
Small businesses should not feel like they are on their own trying to make it work.
Cleanliness, lighting, and safety also matter. When those basics fall short, it impacts customers, employees, and the long-term health of commercial corridors.
Gloria will:
Cut red tape to make it easier to open and grow a business
Expand access to capital and technical support
Strengthen commercial corridors and address vacancies
Improve conditions like cleanliness, lighting, and safety
As a parent, Gloria understands how important it is for families to have schools they can rely on. She is hearing from families who do not see a clear path from elementary school through high school, and some are leaving the ward or city to find it.
Families should not have to leave Ward 6 to find the education their children deserve.
Gloria will:
Support DCPS and public charter schools
Ensure schools have the resources families expect
Strengthen the pipeline from early education through high school
Better connect schools to workforce opportunities
Strong schools and strong businesses build stronger communities.
Government That Works
This is about making city government work the way it should.
Too many residents feel unheard and do not see follow-through when they raise concerns, often left chasing answers and wondering why things take so long.
Trash pickup isn’t always consistent, and permitting can be slow and unclear — leaving residents and small businesses stuck waiting. That’s not how it should work.
Residents should not have to chase city government to get basic services. Gloria believes government must be accountable for results, and residents deserve to know their tax dollars are being used effectively and delivering for communities. She has spent her career making complex systems work and knows how to bring people together, cut through bureaucracy, and deliver results.
Gloria will:
Be accessible and responsive
Follow through and close the loop
Improve coordination across agencies
Streamline permitting and approvals
Strengthen transparency and accountability
Ward 6 deserves leadership that listens, responds, and delivers.
