Deputy Director, Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs

Kelly Watson serves as a Deputy Director of the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs (OPLA) for the Executive Office of the Mayor.

Prior to her role in OPLA, Ms. Watson worked at the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) as a Legislative Affairs Specialist, where she worked on a number of policy issues including, Business and Professional Licensing, Vacant Building, and Property Maintenance legislation. While at DCRA, Ms. Watson also helped draft numerous regulations, prepared the Director of the agency for DC Council hearings and responded to press inquiries concerning agency actions and positions. Ms. Watson has also interned in the United States Senate Office of Legislative Counsel and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Ms. Watson is currently barred in the State of Maryland and has a Juris Doctor from the North Carolina Central University School of Law. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from East Carolina University.