Roundtable hears testimony supporting James Turner for APCA board
Summary
The Committee on Public Works and Operations took testimony on Mayor Bowser's nomination of James Turner to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration board; witnesses praised his ANC experience and Turner emphasized transparency, systems modernization and interagency coordination.
Council Member Brianne Nadeau, chair of the Committee on Public Works and Operations, opened a May 7 roundtable to consider the mayor's nomination of James Turner to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (APCA) board. The committee set a one-week deadline for written testimony, and no final vote was taken at the session.
John Guggenmose, board chair of the DC Nightlife Council, told the committee he has known Turner for about 20 years and urged confirmation, calling Turner "thoughtful, fair and practical" in balancing neighborhood concerns and business interests. Turner, sworn in to give testimony, described seven terms as an ANC commissioner in ANC1B and senior roles in the private sector, and said he would bring experience in licensing and settlement negotiations to the board.
Turner told the committee he will prioritize clearer public information about licenses and board processes, stronger cross-agency coordination where licensing decisions touch permitting, health and transportation, and ongoing systems modernization to reduce friction and improve data quality. He affirmed he had no conflicts to disclose and that he is a Ward 1 resident.
The committee did not vote on the nomination during the roundtable; Chair Nadeau said the record will close at 05:30 p.m. on May 14, 2026, to allow written testimony before any markup.
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