Mayor Muriel Bowser has nominated Ms. Portia Firnhaber to serve as a community member on the Violence Fatality Review Committee, filling a vacancy left by Deborah Evans-Bailey. This appointment is in accordance with the Confirmation Act of 1978 and the Fatality Review Committee Amendment Act of 2018. Ms. Firnhaber, a resident of Ward 4, will serve for the remainder of an unexpired term ending on October 12, 2026. The Mayor has provided biographical information about Ms. Firnhaber, highlighting her extensive experience in victim advocacy and social work, which includes her current role at the Network for Victim Recovery of DC and previous positions at the Indiana Department of Child Services and the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
The proposed resolution confirms Ms. Firnhaber's appointment and outlines the necessary steps for the Council of the District of Columbia to adopt it. Upon adoption, a copy of the resolution will be transmitted to both the nominee and the Office of the Mayor. The resolution is set to take effect immediately, reflecting the urgency of the nomination process. The legal sufficiency of the resolution has been reviewed and deemed unobjectionable by the Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor.