George Mason University is hosting a special discussion tomorrow night with Alexandria’s Mayor Justin Wilson and Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey about trends in local governance.
The discussion is being cohosted by Agenda Alexandria and Advance Arlington and moderated by local journalist Michael Lee Pope. The program, titled 21st Century Governing: Are Local Officials In Sync with Constituents?, is scheduled to run from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Arlington campus of George Mason University (3351 Fairfax Drive). Admission is free.
Both Garvey and Wilson are retiring at the end of this year and the event listing said topics will focus on looking back at how governance has changed while they’ve been in office.
Topics will also include a discussion of the impact of one-party control on local government. Alexandria’s City Council has been an all-Democratic body since 2012 — though that hasn’t kept intensely opposed internal factions from emerging in city leadership.
Arlington hasn’t had a non-Democrat on the County Board since independent incumbent John Vihstadt was defeated in 2018.
We welcome their input and perspectives on topics that include:
- Are the “Alexandria Way” and “Arlington Way” still effective for constituent input?
- How has local government changed in the last several decades?
- Lessons learned on economic development and affordable housing controversies
- Civility in public engagement given our polarized times
- How technology is / isn’t being used to engage the public
- Are we reaching young constituents who make up a growing population?
- Does one-party control of local government hamper compromise?
- Advice for current and future local elected officials
