Letter to the Editor: City Hall Needs a New Direction
Gant Redmon, Kathleen Burns and Ginny Hines Parry applaud those who seek to change the direction and makeup of Alexandria's current city government.
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To the Editor:
Despite the claims of Mayor Euille and others, the Democratic primary result was hardly “a vindication” of the course set for Alexandria by their current and past incumbents on Council.
The mayor is fooling himself and voters when he concludes, “the voters of this great city like the direction we’re moving in and we’ll continue moving forward.” Instead, a broad call for reform and new direction from within the Democratic Party itself was narrowly defeated. City hall insiders managed to impose their will on their own frustrated party, again.
Fourteen candidates, four or more Political Action Committees, attack ads, record spending – all indicate a party in disarray over the direction, the priorities, and the policies of this City Council and City government. This election and its results indicate a mounting demand for the return of representative, responsive government in our city. To argue otherwise is to ignore math...and our history.
In an election with a single party turnout of less than 15 percent, the “voters of this great city” were barely counted in this election. Even within this low turnout of the party stalwarts, the margins between winners and losers were slim. A close look at the “winning” six candidates shows they took barely half of the combined votes.
The two current incumbents, Del Pepper and Paul Smedberg, barely survived the primary vote, finishing number four and five respectively. The one outside challenger to be selected, Allison Silberberg, earned the third largest number of votes. Newcomer and mayor’s protégé, John Chapman, earned the sixth and last position on the ticket, just beating the strongest voice for change, Victoria Menjivar, by 217 votes.
Not so long ago, Alexandria enjoyed balance, constructive debate, and far better governance at City Hall. Those of us who have lived here for some time remember when habitual bipartisanship, thoughtful planning with vision, and cooperation for the good of all Alexandria distinguished our city government.
It is only recently that the city lurched into single party rule dominated by insiders with a disturbing sense of entitlement. It is only recently that decisions have appeared predetermined, poorly supported with relevant research, ready to be marketed to a stunned citizenry, seemingly without choice or option.
We are at risk of losing our sense of community and community itself due to chronic, even cynical, partisanship and poor government. It is very right for Alexandrians of all backgrounds to expect excellence in government, fiscal prudence, and good judgment. They want respect for the public, true leadership for the people, and trust restored in city government. Bad policy, poor planning, and tired strategies divide us without reason. It need not be this way. Alexandrians have known better government in the past. We all love this city and we can change things, together.
We applaud and support those who seek to change the direction and makeup of city government. The meager “victory” of those protecting the status quo is real cause for hope. There are too many frustrated Alexandria citizens of all parties and interests demanding real change to ignore. These citizens have very qualified alternative candidates, Republican, non-establishment Democrat, and independent, from whom to choose. The objective in November is to return balance to our governance, civility and constructive engagement to our dialog, and better, more collective vision to our strategy for Alexandria’s future. We can be proud of these qualities in our city government, again.
It takes your vote!
Sincerely,
Gant Redmon, Kathleen Burns, Ginny Hines Parry
JohnFitzgerald
8:07 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Very well stated! It is very interesting to see Silberberg signs in front of the homes of republicans/independents and wood/McDonald/Fannon signs in front of the homes of democrats. I for one am sick of the partisanship and having a mayor and council who ignore and steamroll the citizens. My votes will include the four above and possibly an independent or two. Happy Independence day! Come November Alexandrians will hopefully declare their independence from the awful leadership we are stuck with today...
Ken Hill
8:48 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
"Time for change", Alexandrians are saying. The letter to the editor is on target, reflecting the general dissatisfaction among the electorate in general and the politically active in particular. With respect for a person I like and admire, Mayor Euille's assessment is flawed. The people want their city back!
Edgar Warfield
10:51 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
This 'ol Democrat hates it when folks apparently don't seem to have a clue what a primary or caucus is about: the party's choice. It wasn't a general election and wasn't supposed to be -- so the notion that the primary isn't valid because "only" 15 percent turned out is, at best, meaningless, and at worst, intentionally misleading. Despite the spin that "a broad call for reform and new direction from within the Democratic Party itself was narrowly defeated," the fact is the party made its choice. If the authors don't like it they can: 1) form their own party; 2) become Republicans; 3) move to Maryland and argue with Pepco.
I'm sick and tried of these psuedo-Democrats complaining about the party and its "disarray," instead of working to build a better party and City.
Regards,
E. Warfield
Dennis Auld
12:19 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Last I saw Council was made up of 4 Democrats, 1 Republican and 1 Indpendent, hardly a "one party" adeministration. gant, you surprise me, you are usually a level headed person. How did you get mixed into this anti-waterfront plan group that is clearly still angry and want to make this "their town." All of the above is NIMBY rancor. Not an element of truth in it. Get over it, the people spoke at the primary, and they are fine with the leadership and direction of the city.
Ann Dorman
11:47 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Well stated, Denny. I applaud you for speaking out!
Virginia Law
2:07 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The corruption - the collusion of the City officials and in the Legal profession in the State of Virginia needs a cleaning of house. There is a reason that the State of Virginia is rated 47th and 49th in two independent studies. http://www.scribd.com/VirginiaLaw you can find the articles on Scribd and find my law suit with the city at the following link -
http://www.scribd.com/doc/96184013/JWG-Counter-Claim-Cross-Complaint-June-6-2012-Final-v1
JW Grenadier
JohnFitzgerald
9:28 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I again applaud the authors of this letter. As for Mr. Auld and Mr. Warfield - gentlemen please listen to yourselves collectively and individually... Warfield calls for those unhappy with the current democrat regime to help build a better democratic party. We tried sir by supporting some alternate candidates (pretty much by supporting any non incumbent or previously terminated incumbents). Mr. Auld's comment is quite sad following yours. You say - do something and he says shut up to those whomare trying to do something or who disagree with the Euille way... You gents remind me of the two grumpy muppets in the balcony. For the life of me I can't remember their names. Anyhow despite that I hope you both have safe and enjoyable independence day holiday.. Home of the free because of the brave..
Leslie Hagan
12:00 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Statler and Waldorf.
Dennis Auld
11:48 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Mr. Fitzgerald, I don't see how my comments equate to a "shut up." Hardly, in fact I welcome your comments as I think it is gfood for the readers of these articles and comments get all sides of an issue. But I do not beleive that the article above is anywhere near a true reflection of our current administration and direction the city is going. Maybe you can answer this question. The article above says "Not so long ago, Alexandria enjoyed balance, constructive debate, and far better governance at City Hall." Can you tell me when that was?
Jim Miller
5:25 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
The tone set in this piece is absolutely correct. Alexandria has definitely lurched into a 'one-party town', be it Democrat, and there really isn't any strong opposition from the Alexandria Republican City Committee, which is made up of 14 out of the 15 Republicans that live in the City of Alexandria. I've said it before, the ARCC is so small they could hold their meetings in one of the restrooms at Pat Troy's. As a Democrat though, and a progressive liberal, to boot, I am amazed and disheartened at how poorly mismanaged the Alexandria Democratic Committee has become. Even if Alexandria is a 'one-party' Democratic town, the ADC has embarrassed myself, and many other Democrats that I know, by their stumbling and bumbling mismanagement of their organization. For anyone to say that there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with the ADC, well, go put your head back in the sand. If you're naive about how the ADC is run, or you don't care, than you shouldn't comment here, because everyone knows the ADC has problems. That being said, it goes to show how weak the ARCC is, when the ADC has left a void in good politics in the City of Alexandria, that Republicans can or won't step up to the plate, themselves, to offer an alternative to managing City Hall for the next three years and beyond. I have mentioned that I will be supporting the reelection of Frank Fannon in 2012. Frank's a left-leaning Republican moderate, and not a right-wing nut job that so often frequents their ranks. Vote Fannon!