At its virtual January meeting, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors elected District of Columbia Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. as its Chair for 2021.

White served as the COG Board Chair in 2019. Under his leadership, the COG Board launched its Regional Housing Initiative, and unanimously adopted three targets to address the area’s production and affordability challenges and create transit-oriented communities.

He also served as COG Board Vice Chair in 2020 and 2018. As part of the COG Board Executive Committee over the last year, White advocated for additional federal COVID-19 relief for area governments, housing stability, and transit, and called for a regional recommitment to equity, among other actions.

Arlington County Board Member Christian Dorsey and City of Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart were elected as COG Board Vice Chairs.

“I’m honored to be elected today as chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments,” said White. “This year, we’ll continue the critical regional work to address our ongoing pandemic response, security following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, advancing racial justice, and D.C. statehood.”

The board also endorsed several legislative priorities for the year that support the region’s COVID-19 recovery, transportation funding, housing opportunities, water quality, climate and energy innovation, air quality, human services, homeland security, and infrastructure investment efforts.

In addition, the COG Board appointed several area officials to leadership positions on its policy committees:

COG Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee Chair:
City of Gaithersburg Councilmember Laurie-Ann Sayles

COG Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee Chair:
Prince George’s County Council Member Deni Taveras

COG Human Services Policy Committee Chair:
Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey

COG Region Forward Coalition Chair:
Arlington County Board Member Libby Garvey

The Board of Directors is COG’s governing body and is responsible for its overall policies, functions, and funds. Board members are appointed each year by the participating local governments and by caucuses of state legislative delegations from the region.

COG is an independent, nonprofit association that brings area leaders together from 24 local governments to address major regional issues in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia.