The Alexandria Republican City Committee will run a slate of three candidates for City Council—Frank Fannon, Alicia Hughes and Bob Wood.
Thursday evening was the deadline for candidates for file with the party.
“We conducted 24 interviews and at the end we have three outstanding candidates we can be very, very proud of,” ARCC Chairman Tom Fulton said Thursday at the group's monthly meeting at Minnie Howard School. “It’s all about building a brand and it’s a slow process.”
Hughes, an incumbent elected as an independent three years ago, submitted her paperwork just before the deadline.
“I feel at home with the Republicans in Alexandria more than anywhere else because they’re remarkably wonderful people,” Hughes said.
Hughes ran as an independent in 2009 because she then held a job with the federal government and couldn’t run with a political party. She launched a new campaign website in April that made no mention of party affiliation.
“It’s been one of the privileges of my life to serve on Alexandria City Council,” she said. “It has also been a remarkable headache.”
She criticized other members of council for “turning a deaf ear” to citizens and said “there are Democrats who feel the people they elected don’t listen to them anymore.”
Fannon, an incumbent, will hold his campaign kickoff party at from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 17.
"I probably know 10,000 to 14,000 people in this city," Fannon said. "But I still need to get out and meet as many people as I can."
Wood announced his candidacy during .
Alexandria realtor Phil Cefaratti, who ran a failed bid for Council in 2009, had collected signatures to get on November’s ballot but a family health issue and work commitments forced him to drop out.
“Phil had to make a very heartfelt decision,” Fulton said. “He felt he had to make family first.”
Anne Peterson, a representative from Andrew Macdonald’s mayoral campaign, told the ARCC that the independent candidate is in “absolute support of the three Republican candidates."
Macdonald was twice elected to City Council as a Democrat but resigned in 2007 halfway through his second term citing personal reasons. He in March.
Independents running for City Council have until June 12 to file their candidacy.
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