Leon Andrews  Leon T. Andrews Jr. is an American urban planning specialist and civic leader. He is currently a director at the National League of Cities. He has been a candidate to represent Ward 4 on the D.C. Council  Andrews is a native Washingtonian who has lived in Ward 4 since at least 2009. He received a bachelor's degree from Howard University in political science, and attended Carnegie Mellon University where he earned a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management . He is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program at University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. At the National League of Cities he worked as a fellow at the Institute for Youth, Education, and Families. In that role he headed the City Leadership to Promote Black Male Achievement Technical Assistance Initiative which provides technical assistance to cities launching achievement programs for black males. He believes the success of these empowerment programs is tied to its ability to engage a diverse group of stakeholders. He also led IYEF's youth development work with mayors and other leaders around the country  Earlier, he worked as a legislative assistant to Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski and as a case analyst for the United States Department of Justice. He has consulted for IBM. He has taught as an adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Eastern Michigan University. Andrews serves on the boards of the National Recreation and Park Association, the Youth Planners Network, and Healthy Kids Healthy Schools. He is a member of the National Review Group of the Safe Routes to School initiative. Andrews is a candidate for the Ward 4 seat in the June 15, 2016 election, opposing candidate Brandon Todd. In April 2016 it was announced that seven of the opponents in the 2015 special election were united in their support for Andrews. He was endorsed by the advocacy group DC4Democracy. Andrews opposed the merger between DC utilities Pepco and Exelon. He appeared alongside Councilmembers Elissa Silverman, Mary Cheh and Charles Allen at a March 2016 rally. In his unsuccessful campaign to replace Muriel Bowser in the 2015 special election, Andrews raised $144,225 and was the second-best funded opponent to Brandon Todd, who previously served as Bowser's communication director and spent his entire career in her employ. When asked references by a community group, he was the only candidate who could provide a name of someone outside of D.C., offering the mayors of Philadelphia, New Orleans, Little Rock, and Jackson. As part of his platform, he aimed to reopen a Ward 4 middle school faster than Mayor Bowser’s budget proposes and on spurring business development.