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Mayor and Council of the District of Columbia to Honor the Popular NBC Show

(Washington, DC) Mayor Anthony A. Williams honored the Emmy-Award Winning series The West Wing by issuing a Proclamation declaring March 5, 2006, “The West Wing Day” in the District and presenting a Resolution on behalf of Chairman Linda Cropp and the Council of the District of Columbia to stars Jimmy Smits and Teri Polo, as well as producer Mike Hissrich and director Chris Misiano. The presentation took place during filming at Eaton Elementary, a DC public school located in Northwest.

Mayor Anthony Williams, with Jimmy Smits, Teri Polo and Chris Misiano of The West Wing, receives a proclamation for "The West Wing Day."

“I’m very grateful to all the producers, directors, writers and actors and staff of The West Wing for using our magnificent city as a backdrop for so many years,” said Mayor Williams. “When TV shows like The West Wing feature our city, it furthers our image as an international destination. Furthermore, it brings new dollars to the District in the form of hotel nights, restaurant visits, employment and other beneficial revenue to help fund city services.”

“It’s a privilege for us to accept this on behalf of everyone who has worked here over the past few years,” said director Chris Misiano. Producers of The West Wing, the longest-running television series ever filmed in the District, have spent over $16 million in the District to produce the show and hired hundreds of local residents. They have also partnered with the District on a number of projects including a series of public service announcements created by Aaron Sorkin after September 11, 2001 to help spur tourism in the District and the Film DC Screenwriting competition over the last five years.

This event helped solidify the long history of production in the District with NBC and The West Wing as the show enters its series finale. The scenes filmed at Eaton Elementary School in the District will air in May 2006.