MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
September 29, 2023
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1- 523.01), and pursuant to section 203a of the Rental Housing Act of
1985, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17- 366, D.C. Official Code § 42 -3502.03a), I am pleased
to nominate the following person:
Ms. Lauren Pair
Farragut Street NW
Washington, DC 20011
(Ward 4)
for reappointment as Rent Administrator, for a term to end June 27, 2026.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please do
not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments,
should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser 1
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Chairman Phil Mendelson
at the request
of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
14 To confirm the reappointment of Ms. Lauren Pair as Rent Administrator
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16 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
17 resolution may be cited as the "Rent Administrator Lauren Pair Confirmation Resolution of
18 2023".
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20 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
21 Ms. Lauren Pair
22 Farragut Street NW
23 Washington, DC 20011
M (Wfild~
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26 as Rent Administrator, pursuant to section 203a of the Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective
27 March 25, 2009 (D. C. Law 17-366, D.C. Official Code§ 42-3502.03a), for a term to end June
28 27, 2026.
29 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
30 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
31 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. LAUREN J. PAIR
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ROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Real estate and rental housing attorney and program administrator experienced in compliance,
enforcement, dispute adjudication and claim determinations, drafting regulations and
legislation, establishing program objectives and assessing performance, devising policy and
procedures, and preparing policy and position recommendations.
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REAS OF EXPERTISE
Rental Housing Act of 1985
Rental Housing Conversion and Sale Act of 1980
Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act of 1980 Condominium Act of 1976
Compliance and Enforcement
Legislative Analysis and Drafting
Investigations and Due Diligence
Title Transactions
Contract Drafting and Negotiation
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ROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
D.C. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, Washington, D.C.
Rent Administrator 2017–Present
Program administrator regulating the rent stabilization program and registration of housing
accommodations for the District of Columbia.
Reviews notices, applications, petitions and other filings for completeness and accuracy, and issues administrative decisions and orders.
Drafts rules, regulations, and policies and procedures.
Provides high- level policy and technical advice to agency director and the Mayor on
complex and controversial rent control legal issues and policy.
Assists the agency director and the Rental Housing Commission with evaluating laws and formulating regulations, and rental housing law policies and recommendations.
Develops testimony and responses for to inquiries for information from the agency director,
the Mayor, City Council, and others regarding agency action.
Investigates violations , issues subpoenas, and administrative and enforcement orders .
Provides information and outreach to internal and external stakeholders and maintains contact with the Rental Housing Commission, the D.C. Office of Administrative Hearings, and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Testifies before City Council regarding division policies and practices, conducts public information sessions, and prepares program publications.
Works with the housing provider ombudsman and the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate to coordinate outreach events for stakeholders on rent stabilization, the petition process and other related topics.
Manages a staff of 9 professional and support staff.
D.C. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, Washington, D.C.
Rental Conversion and Sale Administrator 2006–2017
Program administrator regulating residential condominium registration and conversion of use
and sale of rental housing for the District of Columbia.
Regulated the conversion of property use to condominium or cooperative ownership, rental
housing sales, residential condominium registration, residential condominium structural
defect warranties, tenant relocation assistance payments, and property tax abatements. LAUREN J. PAIR, PAGE 2
Investigated claims and disputes, issued subpoenas, enforcement orders, claim
determinations, and administrative orders.
Initiated enforcement actions in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General .
Provided policy advice to agency director on legal issues and enforcement.
Reviewed and drafted testimony, position statements, legislation, regulat ions, and
administrative issuances, implemented legislation, and devised policies and procedures.
Collected approximately $1.5 million revenue in fees annually.
Managed staff of 6 professional and support staff.
D.C. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, Washington, D.C.
Interim Inclusionary Zoning Program Manager 2015-2016
Interim program manager administering inclusionary zoning and affordable dwelling unit
programs for the District of Columbia.
Ensured compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements .
Provided advice to the agency director on administrative, legal, and compliance issues.
Worked with the Office of Zoning regarding program administration and proposed projects.
Testified before the Zoning Commission on program challenges and improvements.
Managed staff of 4 professional and support staff.
SHULMAN, ROGERS, GANDAL, PORDY & ECKER, P.A., Rockville, Maryland
Commercial Real Estate Associate 2005–2006
Member of a commercial real estate practice representing a regional residential builder.
Prepared and reviewed land purchase and acquisition contracts, land development
contracts, amendments, personal guaranties, collateral assignments, broker agreements,
termination agreements, and ri ght of first refusal agreements and conducted settlements.
THE HONORABLE SHERRIE L. KRAUSER, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland
Judicial Law Clerk 2004–2005
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AR ADMISSIONS Maryland District of Columbia United States Supreme Court P
ROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
District of Columbia Bar Association
Real Estate, Housing and Land Use Member
District of Columbia Affairs Member
Administrative Law and Agency Practice Member Real Estate, Housing and Land Use Steering Committee Member
2006- present
2012- present
2012- present
2006–2010
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DUCATION
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW, Washington, D.C.
Juris Doctor, December 2003
Senior Note & Comment Editor, Administrative Law Review
Dean’s Fellow, Legal Writing & Rhetoric, 2001-2002
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C.
Master of Public Administration, December 1998 (with honors)
TUFTS UNIVERSITY, Medford, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Arts, May 1984
Executive Office of the Mayor - Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Lauren Pair
Ms. Lauren Pair has served as District of Columbia Rent
Administrator since 2017.
As Rent Administrator, Ms. Pair assists in regulating the
rent stabilization program and registration of housing
accommodations for the District of Columbia. Her team
reviews notices, applications, petitions and other filings for
completeness and accuracy, and issues administrative
decisions and orders. Mr. Pair provides high-level policy
and technical advice to the agency director and the Mayor
on complex and controversial rent control legal issues and policy.
As an accomplished real estate and housing attorney and manager with extensive experience
administering two regulatory housing programs , Ms. Pair has substantial expertise in
compliance, enforcement, dispute adjudication and claim determinations, drafting regulations
and legislation, devising policy and procedures, and preparing policy and position
recommendations. Ms. Pair is an excellent communicator and skilled problem -solver, with
outstanding interpersonal skills as evidenced by wide-ranging relationships with internal and
external stakeholders. Ms. Pair is used to establishing program objectives, priorities, and goals
and assessing performance.
A Ward 4 resident, Ms. Pair received a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University and a Master ofin
Public Administration and Juris Doctor from American University .
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
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The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724 -7681
To: Tommy Wells, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: September 26, 2023
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolution nominating Lauren Pair for reappointment
as the Rent Administrator
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above- referenced resolution and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Erika Satterlee, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202 -
724-1303, or me at 202- 724-7681.
______________________________ Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish