The Alexandria City Council last night (Tuesday) unanimously approved a resolution asking the Alexandria Circuit Court to set an April 21 special election date to fill the council seat vacated by Del.-elect R. Kirk McPike.
April 21 is the same date as a statewide referendum, and city staff and the city’s registrar of voters recommended holding the special election on that date to “reduce election costs and avoid voter confusion associated with multiple elections held in close succession,” according to the resolution.
McPike officially resigned from his seat on Monday, Feb. 9. The following day, he won a special election for Virginia’s 5th District in the House of Delegates.
The Alexandria Democratic Committee is holding a firehouse primary for the council seat on Saturday, Feb. 21. Five Democratic candidates are contending for the seat.
- Sandy Marks, former ADC Chair
- Tim Laderach, President of the Del Ray Citizens Association
- Roberto Gomez, leader of nonprofit Cornerstone Craftsman
- Cesar Madison Tapia, D.C. Public Schools teacher
- Charles Sumpter, executive at World Wildlife Fund
The Democratic candidates will appear in three forums next week.
- The Del Ray Business Association‘s candidate forum is scheduled from 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (2300 Mount Vernon Avenue) and will be moderated by ALXnow.
- The Alexandria branch of the NAACP is hosting a candidate forum from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Departmental Progressive Club (411 Gibbon Street)
- The Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations will hold a forum at its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 in the Parish Hall at Immanuel Church on the Hill (3606 Seminary Road)
ALXnow has asked the Alexandria Republican City Committee if it will have a candidate in the election.
