Melissa Feld became the 12th Democrat to jump into the Alexandria City Council race on Monday night.
Feld, who lives on Russell Road, announced her decision at a meeting of the Alexandria Democratic Committee at .
“I just think it’s time for new blood,” Feld told Patch.
A former staffer for U.S. Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Feld is currently a principal with Power Based Associates, an organization that specializes in performing research and corporate intelligence for various organizations and companies.
A mother of two Alexandria City Public Schools students, Feld has never run for political office. She said she was approached to run for the Alexandria School Board but thought more could be done as a member of council.
She said she thinks it’s important that someone with children in the public school system be represented on council. Democrats and are the only other candidates in either party with kids currently enrolled in ACPS.
Feld said she has spent some time attending meetings in City Hall and has been struck by some of the attitudes and information they’ve produced.
“It’s atrocious our police are paid the worst in the area,” she said. “Our city manager [Rashad Young] is trying to do some really great things, but I wonder if not raising taxes is the right idea if the population keeps growing.”
Feld also said she believes issues like transportation and education are on the tops of voters’ minds more so than issues like waterfront redevelopment.
“Even trash pickup and the sewers — those are the things people are asking about,” Feld said.
Also at the meeting, Democrat Michael A. Hepburn announced that he will make a decision about his candidacy on Monday. He has been conducting a “listening tour” of the city since September and said that he was “highly getting prepared to run.”
If Hepburn jumps in the race, the Democrats will have 13 candidates on the June 12 primary ballot. Incumbents and are in the race along with challengers , , , , , , , Feld, Lovain and Wilson.
The Democrats will select six candidates to run in the November election.
“People have said we have a lot of candidates,” ADC Chairman Dak Hardwick said. “Well, the other side won’t even put up a whole field.”
Republican incumbent Frank Fannon is running for re-election along with challenger . Realtor Phil Cefaratti announced last week that he is likely to run as a Republican.
The Republicans will hold a party canvass on June 2 to select their candidates.
Incumbent independent Alicia Hughes, who has been a regular attendee at Alexandria Republican City Committee meetings this year and has endorsed Republican George Allen for U.S. Senate, is also expected to run for re-election.
Last week, Andrew Macdonald said he was against Democratic incumbent Bill Euille.
