Office of Employee Appeals Lafayette Barnes Confirmation Resolution of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Phil Mendelson

The bill confirms Lafayette Barnes to the DC Office of Employee Appeals for the remainder of the term through April 6, 2028.

Committee Mark-up of PR26-0705 by the Executive Administration and Labor Committee

Overview

Bill: PR 26-0705

Session: 26

Jurisdiction: District of Columbia

Title: Office of Employee Appeals Lafayette Barnes Confirmation Resolution of 2026

Purpose: Confirm Lafayette Barnes as a member of the DC Office of Employee Appeals (OEA) to replace Arrington Dixon, for the remainder of an unexpired term ending April 6, 2028.

Main Purpose and Intent

The Mayor nominates Lafayette Barnes for appointment to the Office of Employee Appeals.

The Council’s confirmation is required under the Confirmation Act of 1978 and related Civil Service merit principles.

If confirmed, Barnes will serve as a member of the OEA for the remainder of the term ending April 6, 2028.

Key Provisions and Changes

Sec. 2: Confirms the appointment of Lafayette Barnes to the Office of Employee Appeals, replacing Arrington Dixon, for the remainder of the unexpired term through April 6, 2028.

Sec. 3: Requires the Council to transmit a copy of the resolution to the nominee and to the Mayor upon adoption.

Sec. 4: States that the resolution takes effect immediately.

Nominee details: Lafayette Barnes, Ward 8 resident (Mississippi Avenue, SE, DC 20032).

Nomination context: Nominated by Mayor Muriel Bowser pursuant to the Confirmation Act and the Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act.

Who Would Be Affected

Primary: The Office of Employee Appeals (OEA) would gain a new member (Lafayette Barnes).

Indirect: The Council, the Mayor, and the DC government personnel framework governed by the District’s merit personnel laws.

The term of service ends April 6, 2028, aligning with the remaining term of the predecessor.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Action history shows:

Introduced: May 11, 2026
Referred to Committee on Executive Administration and Labor: May 19, 2026

The nomination follows formal channels: Mayor’s nomination letter and biographical materials, followed by a Council confirmation process.

Legal sufficiency: Office of the General Counsel (Mayor’s Office) issued a legal sufficiency certification deeming the resolution unobjectionable.

Immediate effect: Once adopted, the resolution takes effect immediately.

Nominee Background

Lafayette Barnes is a seasoned public administrator with about 20 years of senior leadership experience in the DC government.

Notable experience includes roles in the Executive Office of the Mayor (various administrations) focusing on organizational capacity, grant management, and international collaboration (notably with Africa).

Education: Master of Science in Foreign Service (Georgetown University), BA in Political Science (LaSalle University), and multiple professional certifications.

Professional focus areas: grants development and management, nonprofit capacity building, partnerships, and grants information systems.

Residency: Ward 4, DC (as indicated in professional materials).

Potential Impact and Considerations

Governance: Adds experienced administrator with a track record in grants management and public administration to the OEA, potentially influencing personnel dispute resolution processes and agency effectiveness.

Transparency and Merit: Follows standard confirmation procedures designed to ensure appointments align with DC merit principles.

Accountability: The Council’s confirmation serves as oversight of the appointment, with immediate effect upon adoption.

If you’d like, I can condense this into an executive summary or provide a plain-English one-page briefing for a general audience.