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John Trost nominated as consumer member of Board of Dietetics and Nutrition; vote deferred
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Summary
The Committee on Health heard from John Trost on his nomination to serve as the consumer member of the District’s Board of Dietetics and Nutrition. The committee did not vote; Henderson said both nominations will be considered at the committee’s next meeting on Thursday.
At a Committee on Health roundtable Tuesday, At-large Councilmember Christina Henderson heard testimony on Mayor Muriel Bowser’s nomination of John Trost to serve as the consumer member of the Board of Dietetics and Nutrition. The committee did not vote; Henderson said both nominations before the committee will be considered and voted on at the committee’s next meeting on Thursday.
The nomination (PR26-276) would appoint Trost to fill a consumer-seat vacated by Chelsea Richardson for the remainder of a term ending March 12, 2026. The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition licenses and oversees the practice of dietetics and nutrition in the District and is composed of five members: four licensed dietitians or nutritionists and one consumer member.
Trost, a Ward 2 resident and recent Hamilton College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in government, told the committee he currently works as a democracy program assistant at the Weiss Foundation. He described summers working on a small organic family farm and his interest in sustainable agriculture and nutrition. He said his current job involves helping oversee more than $1 million in annual grants to food pantries and community meal programs.
Trost said he applied for the position through the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments and wants to represent consumers’ perspectives on licensing and oversight. "I look forward to representing the citizens' perspective on the district's board of dietetics and nutrition, if confirmed," he told the committee. He said he will prioritize public comment and stakeholder input and expects to attend regular quarterly meetings.
Henderson asked whether Trost felt comfortable serving as a nonprofessional consumer member among licensed practitioners; Trost said public membership can balance professional interests and enhance public trust. Because no vote was taken at the hearing, Trost’s nomination will return for a formal vote at the committee’s next meeting on Thursday.
