Mayor Alyia Gaksins endorsed Alexandria City Council candidate Roberto Gomez at his campaign kickoff in Landmark yesterday (Sunday).
About 50 people attended the event, which was the third Democratic campaign kickoff so far in the Feb. 21 firehouse primary. Five Democratic candidates are competing for the seat left by outgoing City Councilman R. Kirk McPike, whose resignation goes into effect today as he runs for Virginia’s 5th House District in tomorrow’s special election.
Addressing the crowd, Gaskins said she believes “there is no one else who is more ready” for the job than Gomez, who is the founder and executive director of nonprofit Cornerstone Craftsman.
“We are governing at a time that is unprecedented, and we need unprecedented leaders,” Gaskins said. “I need someone who is currently serving on boards and commissions, who understands the legislative process, who is showing up day in and day out.”
Gomez is running for McPike’s seat against former Alexandria Democratic Committee Chair Sandy Marks, Del Ray Citizens Association President Tim Laderach, public school teacher Cesar Madison Tapia and World Wildlife Fund executive Charles Sumpter.
Gaskins said that she has been watching Gomez work for years. She reached out to him when he declared his candidacy.
“Endorsements are important, but I think what matters more is the work that you put into it,” she said. “It’s getting out and connecting with voters, and so I’m going to help by knocking doors, making calls and doing whatever I can to support my friend.”
Madison Tapia said he is planning a campaign kickoff for Saturday and will release detail soon. Sumpter said he is deciding on whether to host one.
During his campaign kickoff, Gomez said affordability, public safety and increasing the city’s trade school programs remain his top issues.
“This election is about you and your families, about keeping Alexandrians safe and allowing them to live here peacefully the rest of their lives,” Gomez said. “The city must prioritize making Alexandria more affordable for its residents, and I’m committed to working with this community to achieve this goal.”
Gomez is a member of several city boards and committees, including the Alexandria Gang Prevention Task Force, the Sheriff’s Community Advisory Board and the Alexandria Community Safety Forum.
In her endorsement, Gaskins drew parallels between her mayoral run and Gomez’s current campaign.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘Well, how can you do it? He has a nonprofit, he’s a business owner, he’s doing all these things,'” Gaskins said. “I am the same person who they said those things about when I said I was going to be running for mayor. The first question I got is, ‘How can she do it all?'”
Meanwhile, Marks has received endorsements from Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, former Alexandria City Councilwoman Del Pepper, Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3), School Board Member Abdulahi Abdalla, and Virginia State Sen. Saddam Salim (D-37). Laderach has been endorsed by School Board Member Donna Kenley and former City Councilman David Speck.
The candidates are scheduled to appear at a Del Ray Business Association forum at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (2300 Mount Vernon Avenue) from 6:30-8 p.m. next Monday, Feb. 16.
The City Council firehouse primary will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, with polls open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations.
- Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke Street)
- Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (25 W. Reed Avenue)
