Leigh Catherine Miles previously served as founding Executive Director of Tenleytown Main Street, working to strengthen the economic vitality of DC’s second-oldest commercial district. Prior to her work in community and economic development, Leigh Catherine spent nearly two decades working with democratic activists worldwide to build effective, transparent, and accountable governing institutions. She previously held positions with the National Democratic Institute, The Brookings Institution, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders. She is a Fellow with the Truman National Security Project. Originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, Leigh Catherine has lived in DC since 1998 and resided in AU Park since 2005.
Nora Charles is proud DC native and a graduate of Ward 3 public schools. Before joining the Council in September 2024, she worked as a project director for a nonprofit organization that worked with young people to do volunteer projects in rural regions of Costa Rica. She is a former teacher, having taught both third and fourth grade. After leaving the classroom, she trained early childhood educators in digital literacy in central Tennessee in a statewide effort to bridge the digital divide. She holds a master’s degree in education (MEd) from Lipscomb University in Nashville and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Virginia. She is overjoyed to be serving constituents in her hometown on all school related matters.
Prior to joining Councilmember Frumin’s team, Trisha Kondabala led a pro bono legal clinic for low-income DC seniors at Legal Counsel for the Elderly. Originally from Bradenton, Florida, she holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Florida and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School. During law school, she worked with asylees in the DMV area as a student-attorney at the GW Law Immigration Clinic and externed at the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. She is excited to continue advocating to improve access to resources and quality of life for DC residents.
Kevin Caudill has worked at the intersection of communications, policy, and politics for more than 7 years. Before joining the Council in July of 2024, he was an account supervisor at a DC-based communications firm. He also has been a youth basketball coach with schools in the District since 2021. Kevin’s past experience includes helping hospitals respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, elevating the voices of cancer patients in DC, and advocating for public policy such as health care, education, and disability rights. He holds a master’s degree (MPAff) from the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oklahoma.
Ashlee Mercer is a DC native who graduated Summa Cum Laude from Trinity Washington University with a BA in criminal justice. Before joining Team Frumin, Ashlee worked as a Project Manager for American Prison Data Systems; helping 11 out of 13 students become AWS Certified Cloud Practitioners.
Santiago Mendoza is a graduate of George Washington University with a BA in International Affairs and he recently returned to the District after several years working as a counselor for middle and high school students at an education nonprofit in New York City.
Shantise Wynn-Brown is a DC native and graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School (now Jackson-Reed High School), a DC Public School in Ward 3. Before joining Councilmember Frumin’s team, her prior work experience includes working at the Council and in the transportation and logistics industry. Shantise is an administrative professional with a passion for working with and helping people, which led her back to the Council.
Dan joined Councilmember Frumin’s team as the Director of the Committee on Human Services in January 2025. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University Law Center, Dan clerked at both D.C. Superior Court and the Supreme Court of Maryland. He then served as Legislative Counsel and Acting Committee Director for a previous iteration of the Committee on Human Services before joining the Department on Disability Services as its legislative lead. Before joining the Councilmember’s staff, Dan also worked at a local nonprofit as a legal aid attorney and policy counsel.
Elias Benda returns to the Council, having previously been responsible for education policy as Legislative Advisor to Councilmember Frumin. Prior to joining the Council Elias worked in electoral politics, helping elect President Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris, and Congressman Gerry Connolly, and volunteering for several local, state, national, and issue-based campaigns prior to serving as Matt Frumin’s Campaign Manager. Born and raised in Adams Morgan and a product of DC Public Schools, Elias graduated from Wesleyan University and is currently enrolled at the Georgetown University Law Center.
Emelie has lived in DC for a decade, and is a proud graduate of American University and George Washington University Law School, where she received her J.D. in 2023. Since graduating, Emelie has worked in both the litigation and transactional sides of law. She is passionate about policy and public service and thrilled to begin working on behalf of the constituents of DC with the Committee of Human Services.
