Thomas Clayton Wells (born February 27, 1957[2]) is an American politician, social worker and lawyer from Washington, DC. He was a member of the Council of the District of Columbia where he served as a Democrat representing Ward 6. Wells is now the director of the DC Mayor’s Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs after serving as the director for the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) for 8 years where he was chiefly responsible for protecting the environment and conserving the natural resources of the District of Columbia.

Tommy Wells
Wells at the DC Pride Parade in 2012
Director of the Mayor’s Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs
Assumed office
January 2, 2023
MayorMuriel Bowser
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 6
In office
January 2, 2007 – January 2, 2015
Preceded bySharon Ambrose
Succeeded byCharles Allen
In office
2001–2006
Member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission from District 6B
In office
1995 – 2000
Chair: 1997-1998
Personal details
Born
Thomas Clayton Wells[1]

(1957-02-27) February 27, 1957 (age 67)[1]
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (BS)
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MSW)
Catholic University of America (JD)

Biography

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Wells was born in Austin, Texas in 1957 and received his B.A. from the University of Alabama in 1979. He then pursued a master's degree in social work, earning an M.S.W. from the University of Minnesota in 1981. In 1991, he received his J.D. from Catholic University's Columbus School of Law.

Wells began his Washington, D.C., career in 1985 as a social worker in the District's child protective services agency. After six years with the agency, Wells became the director of the D.C. Consortium for Child Welfare, an organization of 20 nonprofit agencies that serve the city's children and families, until his election to the Council of the District of Columbia in 2006.[3] He also served as a member of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B from 1995 to 2000 and Chair of ANC 6B from 1997-1998. He was elected to serve Wards 5 and 6 on the DC Board of Education from 2001-2006, and was elected to the DC Council in 2006, winning reelection in 2010.

In 2013, he announced he would not seek another term in his council seat and would instead run for mayor of the District of Columbia. Wells' chief of staff, Charles Allen, decided he would run for Wells' seat on the Council.[4]

Wells has been married to Barbara Wells since 1988 and is a member of Christ Episcopal Church.

Elections

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Wells defeated Will Cobb (I) and Antonio (Tony) Williams (R) in the 2006 elections with 62% (8,992) of the vote compared to Cobb's 27% (3,908) and Williams' 11% (1,564).[5]

Wells was re-elected for a second term in 2010. Wells defeated Jim DeMartino (R) in the 2010 election with 85% (16,256) of the vote, compared to DeMartino's 14% (2,674).[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997
  2. ^ "Voters Guide 2006 Supplement" (PDF). The Washington Informer. 2006-09-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-11-10.
  3. ^ "Election Profile - D.C. Council, Ward 6". The Washington Post. 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  4. ^ DeBonis, Mike (October 11, 2013). "Evans comes on strong in D.C. mayoral race fundraising, but Bowser retains cash edge". The Washington Post. ProQuest 1441755226.(subscription required)
  5. ^ "Local Elections 2006 - D.C. Council, Ward 6". The Washington Post. 2006. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  6. ^ "DC Board of Elections". DC Board of Elections. 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-11-06. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
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Council of the District of Columbia
Preceded by Ward 6 Member, Council of the District of Columbia
2007–2015
Succeeded by