(Updated 10:50 a.m.) With Mayor Justin Wilson announcing last week that he won’t seek reelection, two members of Alexandria’s City Council have tossed their hats into the ring to replace him.
City Council member Alyia Gaskins announced this morning (Monday) that she would be running for mayor.
According to a release:
It has been the honor of my life to serve Alexandria on the City Council. Guided by your concerns, I’ve worked to address key issues like education, housing, and public safety.
I’ve decided to run for Mayor to work with you to create innovative solutions to ensure that Alexandria is a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Gaskins was elected to the City Council in 2021.
Vice Mayor Amy Jackson also told ALXnow that she was officially in the race, though campaign details are still forthcoming.
Jackson, a former Fairfax County Public Schools educator and administrator, was elected to the City Council in 2018 and became vice mayor in 2021.
Though not to the same degree of conflict as former Mayor Allison Silberberg, Jackson has occasionally differed on issues from the rest of the Council.
While those have rarely turned into dramatic quarrels, Jackson did argue with others on the council after she called a candidate for a law enforcement partnership “anti-police.” At a City Council meeting last week, Jackson unsuccessfully attempted to have the vote on single-family-zoning separated from the rest of the Zoning for Housing/Housing for All package.
Jackson and Gaskins will square off in the Democratic primary in June and will leave two vacancies open on Alexandria’s six-person City Council.
James Cullum contributed to this report.