Council committee holds confirmation hearing for Frank Sanders as Real Property Tax Appeals commissioner

The Committee on Business and Economic Development, chaired by At-Large Councilmember Kenya McDuffie, held a public roundtable June 17, 2025, to consider PR 26-178, the mayoral nomination of Frank Sanders Jr. to the Real Property Tax Appeals Commission for a term ending April 30, 2029. No public witnesses testified at the hearing, and the committee did not take a recorded vote during the session.

Frank Sanders, who has served on the commission since its start in February 2012 and previously served on the Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals beginning in 2009, told the committee he has worked in real estate for decades and would continue to serve if confirmed. "If confirmed, I will work with my fellow commissioners and staff in executing this important function for the District of Columbia," Sanders said. He told the committee he has heard "over 10,000 commercial and residential cases."

Sanders described his background in mortgage banking and appraisal work, saying he graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in finance, worked in mortgage banking beginning in 1974, and was vice president of Independence Federal Savings Bank in the late 1970s. He said he founded an appraisal and brokerage firm in 1981 focused on residential and commercial properties in the District and Maryland. Sanders told the committee he is a District resident who has lived in Ward 4 since 1976, is a certified real estate appraiser in the District and Maryland, and is a licensed real estate broker in the District.

Chair McDuffie asked the standard background questions required of nominees. Sanders answered that he has no outstanding tax liabilities to the District, state or federal government, that his address has not changed since his last nomination, and that neither he nor immediate family members have interests that would pose a conflict of interest. Sanders confirmed he is not an attorney and is not an elected officer.

On committee questions about changes since his last confirmation, Sanders said the commission "has gotten much better" with recent mayoral appointments, including a new vice chair and several new commissioners who, in his view, have strengthened the body. When asked about the commission's budget during the council’s budget review, Sanders told the committee he had no information to share on the record at this time.

The committee chair reminded those interested that written testimony for the record may be submitted through the council's hearing management system until 5:30 p.m. on June 20, 2025. McDuffie opened the roundtable at approximately 12:14 p.m. and adjourned it at about 12:25 p.m. No committee vote on PR 26-178 was recorded during the hearing.