The three candidates running for an open seat on Alexandria City Council will meet in two forums this week.
For most voters, the upcoming appearances on Wednesday (April 8) and Saturday (April 11) are the last opportunity to see the candidates together before the special election on Tuesday, April 21. The candidates, who last appeared together at a forum on March 26, are Democratic candidate Sandy Marks and independent candidates Alison O’Connell and Frank Fannon.
Marks is the former chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, Fannon is a former Republican Member of City Council from 2009 to 2012, and O’Connell is a founding member of Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights.
The candidates will next meet at the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations‘ monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, at 3606 Seminary Road. The meeting will be available via Zoom, with meeting ID 829 3317 3653 and passcode 267478.
From 1-3 p.m. Saturday, the candidates will appear in a virtual forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Alexandria and Arlington. Viewers will receive a link to the event after registering online.
The special election will be held Tuesday, April 21, coinciding with a statewide voter referendum on mid-decade redistricting of Virginia’s congressional districts.
For mail-in voting, the deadline to request a ballot is 5 p.m. Friday, April 10. Voters may apply online or complete a paper application from the Office of Voter Registration & Elections. Completed ballots must be postmarked by April 21 and received by the election office by 12 p.m. on Friday, April 24. A secure outdoor drop box under video surveillance is available through 7 p.m. on April 21, and ballot drop boxes will be available at all polling places, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day.
The deadline for early in-person voting is 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Office of Voter Registration (132 N. Royal St., Suite 100.) Extended hours will be offered April 11-16 and April 18. An accepted form of ID is required to vote in person.
The voter registration deadline is Tuesday, April 14, but same-day registration is available. To register and cast a provisional ballot on Election Day, residents must go to the correct locality and polling place. Provisional ballots will not be reflected in election night results but will be verified after the election.
Voters can check their registration status and polling place online. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21.
The City Council contest is the final seat to be filled following a chain of special elections set off by former state Sen. Adam Ebbin’s (D-39) January announcement that he would resign to join Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D)’s administration. Former Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) subsequently won a Democratic firehouse primary and special election for the open Senate seat. Her victory opened her House seat, which former City Councilman R. Kirk McPike won through his own firehouse primary and special election, creating the current City Council vacancy.
Image 1 via Sandy Marks for the City/Facebook
