I’m not a politician.
I’m your neighbor.
Get to know Xander
Xander is not a politician. He’s your neighbor. Get to know him. He has the background, character, and experience to bring our community together. But hear it for yourself.
Xander’s Experience
Bachelors of Business Administration (Management), Strayer University
Quality Assurance Manager and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Public Records and Repositories in the Copyright Office
2019 Library of Congress Leadership Development Fellow
2018 Recipient American Intellectual Property Law Award
Member, Library of Congress Professional Association (10+ years)
Certified in Agile with Scrum Product Management , and has an extensive project management experience
Program Analyst, Copyright Office, Library of Congress
Budget & Finance Team, Register of Copyright’s Office
Copyright Office, Public Information Office
Speaker before the Library of Congress Madison Council. Chaired by esteemed philanthropist, David Rubenstein.
Xander Harcourt has been a resident and homeowner in District Heights (unincorporated) for 9 years, and District Heights (incorporated) for nearly 3 years.
Originally from Detroit MI, Xander grew up in a large family headed by a single mom, not far from Motown Records. His mother nurtured values in him and his siblings, such as: hard work; respect; curiosity; creativity; education; doing the right thing – even when it is hard; and resilience. These values inform who he is to this day, and have been at the forefront of his work ethic and enigmatic way to connect to a broad array of people. He is able to find common ground to get the job done.
Xander would like to work with the Commission to offer complimentary community driven agenda items to ensure the success of the city collectively. He would like a seat at the table to ensure the city and its residents in District Heights, Ward 1 are represented in a way that champions the best of us all.
He is ready to be a part of the change he’d like to see in District Heights! He needs your vote for District Heights Ward 1 Commissioner.
Early Community Service
Xander accidentally became a police officer, after he was recruited and posed with a question, “What will you be doing with your life in 5 years?” Unable to answer the question, he signed up, and was accepted into the Detroit Police (D.P.D) Academy. He was on his way to a new and rewarding career in law enforcement.
He wanted to make a difference in his community, and was thrilled that his first detail after the academy would be in Precinct No. 7, headed by Commander Chester Logan. He also lived and graduated high school in No. 7 (Martin Luther King Jr High), and knew and cared about the community and people he would serve.
Xander quickly became known throughout the community as a kind and resourceful officer, and was picked to get certification at Virginia Tech, in both Community Policing, learning to apply those principles that would build bridges and trust between citizens and the police, and as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education Officer (D.A.R.E.). He was a highly requested staple in his local elementary schools, because he truly cared about the kids.
He also acted as a Law Enforcement Explorer advisor, working with teens interested in law enforcement careers. During summer camps for the program, he acted as the physical training coordinator and offered not only advice on nutrition and health, but also life advice. Sharing with his charges the advice he wish he had at their ages. Several went on to college, when they didn’t think it was possible.
Xander was also handpicked to work on several Bike-a-thon’s, coordinated by the Department to get donations for bikes to gift to underserved kids in the community during Christmas.
Beyond “To Serve and Protect”
It was not long into Xander’s police career, recognized for his ability to communicate not only verbally, but in writing, that he was promoted to Chief’s staff, then led by Chief Benny Napoleon (currently Wayne County Sheriff), Planning and Inspection Unit, headed by Lieutenant Victor Holmes and Lieutenant Kim Mackie-Austin. The unit was tasked with writing policy and procedure for the Departments 3000+ officers. His most rewarding policy piece was that in which he collaborated with ATF (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms), MI State Police and FBI, to successfully revise and update the city’s gun policy for private citizens, including issuance of CCWs (carrying concealed weapons).
After a brief time in Planning and Inspection, Xander tested and was promoted to a detective, while simultaneously placing on the Sergeant’s list, and was assigned to Child Abuse.
Making Maryland Home
Xander landed in the area and went to work as court reporter for about a year before landing at The Library of Congress, working as a supervisor in the Copyright Office.
He was promoted quickly throughout the Copyright Office, working on several details that included working on the budget and finance team in the Register of Copyright’s Office, under then Register, Maria Pallante.
One such detail landed him a permanent position in the Copyright Office Public Information Office, where he honed his communication skills. He was promoted to a Senior Information Specialist, GS-12. While in that role, he took a leadership role and created a Confluence page for the Office, updating, transferring and organizing all paper materials into the digital page.
Xander has a passion to protect the environment and this was a small way to help at his job.
Public Servant of Information
Xander has since been promoted to a Program Analyst. He is the Quality Assurance Manager and Subject Matter Expert for Public Records and Repositories in the Copyright Office, working on the Historic Public Records Digitization project.
Xander has been involved in several outreach and volunteer roles while working at the Library of Congress, such as a literacy program, Everybody Wins! Reading to 3rd and 4th graders, encouraging them to value and love literacy as much as he does.
Xander has worked on numerous National Book Festivals in a volunteer role, and in 2019, as a coordinator and program manager. Xander successfully coordinated the programming and LOC employee participation at Washington D.C.’s single largest one day event, where it was visited by over 200,000 visitors.
He has worked on several American Library Association conferences, representing the Library and the Copyright Office, traveling all over the country sharing information about the resources at the Library and the Copyright Office.
Xander was also invited to participate as a speaker in the 2020 Public Service Appreciation PSA by the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden. The Library of Congress’ first female and African American Librarian of Congress.
Xander Harcourt (R) with Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden (L). The Library of Congress’ first female and African American Librarian of Congress.
Xander Harcourt (L) meeting John Lewis (R), United States House of Representatives for Georgia, at a Library of Congress Sponsored Event in 2018.
Next Level Leadership
Xander has always had a passion for politics, and has participated in several ways in a “behind the scenes” sort of way, donating time and money to Democratic candidates in MD and throughout the country. He is also a member of the NAACP.
While working on Commissioner Miller’s campaign, connecting with his neighbors and people that are just as passionate about the city as he, he decided that he wanted to take a more active role. He is ready to do the work, and has decided that he would like to run for the open Ward 1 seat, now vacated by Mayor Jonathan Medlock.
Xander wants to bring a spirit of healing and respectfulness to the Commission. He would like to move the city past some of its troubling history and work collaboratively with the community, Commission and our new Mayor to champion in a new era of professionalism, communication, ethics and fairness.
Contact
Feel free to contact Xander with any questions.
Email
friendsofxander2021@gmail.com
Instagram@friendsofxander