Former Alexandria Democratic Committee chair Sandy Marks is running for City Council, she announced this afternoon (Saturday).
As the first candidate to throw their hat into the ring, Marks’ campaign relies on Democratic City Councilman R. Kirk McPike winning his upcoming special election against Republican Mason Butler for Virginia’s 5th House District seat on Feb. 10.
Marks, who did not run for a third ADC chair term and was succeeded this month by Jon DeNunzio, said her experience and relationships in the city make her an ideal candidate.
“This is not some sort of long existing plan,” Marks told ALXnow. “Alexandria, like the rest of the country, is in a really, really challenging spot, and we need somebody who can run for this seat, who can win, who can beat a Republican opponent, and then who can get to work immediately, who doesn’t require a long runway to get to work immediately for this really abbreviated term.”
She added, “When thinking about who could do that, who has relationships and foundational understanding of these issues in a deep way, I think that’s me. So, I decided to get in myself rather than support someone else, as I have become known for doing.”
The scheduling for the council race has not yet been set, although McPike told ALXnow that it would make sense for it to coincide with the Tuesday, April 21 referendum on redistricting Virginia’s Congressional districts. The winner of the House of Delegates race on Feb. 10 will be sworn into office on Feb. 18.
Up until recently, Marks said she was helping the ADC with its two recent firehouse primaries — for Virginia’s 39th Senate seat and the 5th House District seat.
“Right now I’m still forming my official team,” Marks said. “I have a lot of people who are very supportive and helping me already.”
Marks will hold a campaign kickoff on Tuesday, Feb. 3. The time and location of the event haven’t been released yet, and will be announced on her Facebook page, she said.
“I think that I have earned a reputation for a really participatory and collaborative approach,” she said. “This is, to me, an extension of my existing service. I thought I’d get a break in-between, and that has turned out not to be the case, but I’m up for it. I’ve got the energy to do it.”
Marks spoke to crowds of thousands of people in Old Town last year at No Kings rallies last June and October. She listed housing affordability as a top issue.
“I’m really concerned about my own ability to retire here in the city one day,” Marks said. “The entire country is going through this very difficult financial time, and we have to figure out a way to help Alexandrians to weather this storm.”
A Del Ray resident, Marks has a bachelor’s degree in political science and biological anthropology from Florida State University. She has spent more than 20 years as a communications consultant and writer, according to her LinkedIn page.
