Friday, December 28, 2012
Event held Wednesday at T.C. Williams High School.
The next mayoral and City Council term begins Wednesday and the community is invited to attend the formal installation ceremony. The event will be held in the T.C. Williams High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Mayor Bill Euille was re-elected, as were Council members Del Pepper and Paul Smedberg. Four new Council members will join them: Justin Wilson (who served on Council from 2007 to 2009), Tim Lovain (who served on Council from 2006 to 2009), John Taylor Chapman and Allison Silberberg. Leaving the Council are Vice Mayor Kerry Donley, Frank Fannon, Alicia Hughes and David Speck. Speck served in a temporary capacity, filling in for former Councilman Rob Krupicka who was elected state delegate in a special election.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Alexandria's mayor says both he and Obama need to be re-elected to finish up their unfinished business. For Mayor Euille, that's affordable housing.
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille told Patch that Election Day 2012 has been “busy but fun” with his goal to visit all city precincts twice on Tuesday. During his visits with voters in line and chatting near polling stations, Euille, a Democrat, said most of the questions were about the constitutional amendment addressing eminent domain. Democrats are advising against voting for the amendment, he said. Euille explained it as this: If a water company has to go in and dig a trench to replace a pipe that may affect a business for a few hours or half a day, that business would have the right under this new amendment to say “I lost $600 in revenues, and tell the city to reimburse them….We call that an unfunded mandate and that’s why the amendment …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The latest in election results for mayor, City Council and School Board.
Democratic candidates for Alexandria mayor and City Council appear to have secured the coveted seven slots from voters who cast their ballots on Election Day. As of midnight, 26 of the 27 precincts had reported their results, but absentee and overseas ballots still needed to be counted. When those votes come in, the winners listed below are subject to change. Mayor: Bill Euille Vice Mayor (Council member who gets the most votes): Allison Silberberg City Council (Six Members): Allison Silberberg, Del Pepper, John Taylor Chapman, Tim Lovain, Justin Wilson, Paul Smedberg. Alexandria Democractic Committee Chair Dak Hardwick praised the slate of candidates for "doing the hard work" to earn the most votes on the ballots cast on Election Day. "…
Monday, November 5, 2012
Alexandrian Paul Friedman says City Councilman Frank Fannon is a nice guy, but should not be re-elected.
- OPINION
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Monday, November 5, 2012
I have met City Councilman Frank Fannon and he is a nice guy. Unfortunately, he should not be taking up one of just six precious seats on our City Council. Frank actively opposes the interests of the people of Alexandria and should not be re-elected. While there are many, I offer three reasons. First, Frank has opposed funding needed to build and maintain the public schools we need. Second, Frank actually called for cutting a million dollars from our education budget in order to spend more money for the Alexandria Pipe and Drum Corps. No offense to the corps, but children should be our community’s highest priority. Third, even though Alexandrians had long been united in their desire to see the Mirant/GenOn plant close as quickly as …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The Mount Vernon Chapter of the Sierra Club said it is supporting but not endorsing both incumbent Democratic Mayor Bill Euille and challenger Andrew Macdonald, an independent.
The local chapter of the Sierra Club is supporting but not endorsing both Mayor Bill Euille (D) and challenger Andrew Macdonald, who is running as an independent for mayor on the November ballot. “We have made this decision in recognition of the strong commitment both Mayor Euille and Mr. Macdonald have made to the city in addressing Alexandria’s environmental challenges, and believe they would continue to do so as mayor of Alexandria,” the Mount Vernon Group of the Sierra Club said in a statement. The group cites Euille’s strong leadership on complex issues such as green buildings and transit “particularly at Potomac Yards.” It also cites his support for the Eco-City charter and for "innovative ideas" such as providing affordable housing …
Old Town resident Nate Macek says Democrats will continue to enhance the vibrancy of the city.
- ELECTIONS
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Thursday, November 1, 2012
To the Editor: Over the past nine years, Alexandria has grown to a population of over 144,000 while maintaining a historically low crime rate, a AAA bond rating and the second-lowest property tax rate among major jurisdictions in Northern Virginia. This is no accident. Under the leadership of Mayor Bill Euille and his Democratic City Council colleagues, Alexandria has supported a policy of measured growth to enhance the vibrancy of our city. At the same time, we’ve preserved the integrity of our neighborhoods and ensured that our historic seaport city remains a distinctive destination. Not to mention, we’re all breathing easier since the GenOn power plant closed on Oct. 1. Many of these decisions were not easy choices, and often …
Monday, October 29, 2012
Residents from across the city endorse Republican Bob Wood for City Council.
- OPINION
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Monday, October 29, 2012
To the Editor: Over the past two years, a large number of Alexandria’s residents have become actively involved in the city’s development. Today, the Vision of the City in the 2010 City Council Strategic Plan is demonstrated to be without integrity; and the city short on the ability to plan or implement without major error (BRAC) or deliberate ignorance (Waterfront). What are the main elements of the council’s Vision of the City: Diverse – Historic – Beautiful and Unique Neighborhoods - Urban Villages - Great Community. It is a challenge to the imagination to believe that this vision remains a top priority for City Hall. This election for City Council gives Alexandria city residents the most timely and best opportunity to tip the scale, …
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Alexandrian Hazel Rigby says Mayor Euille has her respect, her support and her vote.
- OPINION
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
Dear Editor: In his opening remarks in the second mayoral debate Andrew Macdonald stated that life in Alexandria had worsened under Mayor Euille's leadership, but it would only be fair to examine his own record. Mr. Macdonald has a history of indecisive, political allegiance and perseverance. In the 2000 election he ran for Council as an independent and lost. In 2003 he joined the Democratic Committee, ran as a Democrat and won. He served his full term. In 2006, he again ran as a Democrat but in an attempt to become Vice Mayor allowed the Republicans to include his name in Republican ads. He prevailed--winning the most votes to become Vice Mayor. In early May 2007, he abruptly resigned his seat for "personal reasons" having served …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Alexandrian Josh Sawislak outlines the criteria for what he believes make the best elected leaders.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
In her Oct. 22 letter, Kathryn Papp makes a plea for more experienced City Council members or just more of them. She argues that none of the Council candidates are experts who could challenge staff, developers, bankers or citizens on issues related to the large number of construction projects in our City’s future. In doing so, she confuses the role of expert with that of elected representative. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton believed that the best leaders were those who “possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society.” [Federalist No. 57] Wisdom and virtue, they say, not specific expertise in the issue of the day, are desirable. But let's assume for a moment that we did select technical …
Monday, October 22, 2012
The group is supporting John Taylor Chapman, Tim Lovain, Del Pepper, Paul Smedberg, Justin Wilson and Bob Wood in their bids to win a seat this November.
The Mount Vernon Group of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed six candidates running for a seat on the Alexandria City Council in the November election: Democrats John Chapman, Tim Lovain, Del Pepper, Paul Smedberg, Justin Wilson and Republican Bob Wood. The environmental advocacy group made its endorsements after reviewing candidates’ answers to club questionnaires and interviews with members of its executive committee. The club said it makes its endorsements on a nonpartisan basis. The review included an evaluation of each candidate’s environmental record and “ability to run a viable campaign,” according to the Sierra Club. The questionnaire considered candidate views of top environmental priorities for the city; complex…
OT insider
9:38 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
What? We're talking about about tearing down warehouses and other structures that have no historic value. In fact, they were constructed during the horrible period you say destroyed Old Town's character and they blight the waterfront today. What does getting rid of them have to do with the destruction of the Marshall House and lower King Street? (which I agree was a terrible mistake). And … more ›