election | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published June 9, 2021 at 5:00AM

Winners of the 2021 Democratic Primary (left to right) Councilman Canek Aguirre, Councilwoman Amy Jackson, Mayor Justin Wilson, Alyia Gaskins, Sarah Bagley, Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, who won the 45th District primary, and Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30) at a victory party at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray. (Photo via Alexandria Democratic Committee/Facebook)

McAuliffe, Ayala, Herring win statewide Democratic primary — “Former Virginia governor and longtime fixture as a national Democratic Party leader Terry McAuliffe won the state’s Democratic nomination for a second term as governor in Tuesday’s primary election, the Associated Press reported at 7:44 p.m. In the two other statewide races, the lieutenant governor’s contest was called by AP for Del. Hala Ayala. In the attorney general race, Del. Jay Jones conceded to incumbent Mark Herring.” [Patch]

Council candidates pose after Democratic primary — “Congratulations to our 2021 Democratic nominees for Alexandria Mayor (Justin Wilson) and City Council (John Chapman, Alyia Gaskins, Amy Jackson, Canek Aguirre, Sarah Bagley, and Kirk McPike), and the 45th House District (Elizabeth Bennett Parker)! Onward to November!” [Facebook]

News

BREAKING: Incumbents hold on in Alexandria City Council Democratic primary

By ALXnow.com

Published June 8, 2021 at 10:30PM

City Councilman John Taylor Chapman in the voting booth with his son at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial on primary day, June 8, 2021. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council incumbents held onto their seats in a hotly contested Democratic primary, and will be joined by three new faces to the Council if the results carry over into the November election.

Alexandria City Councilman John Taylor Chapman received the most votes in Tuesday night’s Democratic primary, winning 12.07% of the vote. Alyia Smith-Parker Gaskins won the second most, with 11.96% of the vote.

News

BREAKING: Wilson wins Democratic mayoral primary, Silberberg concedes

By James Cullum

Published June 8, 2021 at 9:15PM | Updated June 8, 2021 at 11:06PM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson speaks at a vigil against police brutality at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town on June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 11 p.m.) Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson defeated his political rival, former Mayor Allison Silberberg, in Tuesday night’s Democratic primary.

“Thank you Alexandria,” Wilson said at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray. “When the voters of Alexandrians get a choice between a list of things that they are against and a positive vision for the future for our city, they choose the positive vision of the future every single day of the week.”

News

BREAKING: Bennett-Parker declares victory in 45th District race, Levine loses Delegate and Lieutenant Governor races

By James Cullum

Published June 8, 2021 at 8:55PM

Elizabeth Bennett-Parker casts her vote on primary day, June 8, 2021, at Matthew Maury Elementary School. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker prevailed in her quest Tuesday night for the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 45th District, defeating incumbent Del. Mark Levine, who as of this writing was also down in his race for lieutenant governor.

“I’m honored to be the Democratic nominee for the 45th District,” Bennett-Parker said in a statement. “Thank you for your votes; I look forward to working with all of the Democratic nominees to win in November, and to representing all of HD-45 in Richmond.”

News

Voting for competitive Democratic Primary underway across Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published June 8, 2021 at 9:50AM | Updated June 11, 2021 at 4:39PM

City Councilman John Taylor Chapman in the voting booth with his son at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial on primary day, June 8, 2021. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 12 p.m.) After months of debating, campaigning and posting, the Democratic primary in Alexandria is finally here.

Polls across Alexandria are open today until 7 p.m., and anyone in line by then will be permitted to vote.

News

Here’s how much it would cost to reverse the Seminary Road Diet

By James Cullum

Published June 7, 2021 at 10:45AM | Updated June 7, 2021 at 5:55PM

The controversy over the Seminary Road Diet has been front and center this election season, with a majority of City Council candidates saying they will vote to reverse it if elected.

Council candidates have been peppered with questions on the road diet, in addition to their general philosophies on roadway development and community engagement.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 7, 2021 at 5:00AM

Commonwealth Avenue road work starts today in Del Ray — “The City of Alexandria is repaving Commonwealth Avenue during the month of June 2021. The overall paving project will start at the intersection of Cameron Street and Commonwealth Avenue, then proceed northbound to West Braddock Road. It is anticipated that the project will be broken into two phases for construction.” [City of Alexandria]

Reminder: Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8 — “Registered voters are encouraged to become familiar with the ballot and voting procedures in advance.” [City of Alexandria]

News

ALXnow’s top stories of the week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 4, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated June 7, 2021 at 12:09PM

President Biden delivering remarks at Sportrock Climbing Center in Alexandria (via White House/Twitter)

What a week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

Our top story was on President Joe Biden stopping by the Sportrock Climbing Center in Alexandria last Friday with First Lady Jill Biden and Governor Ralph Northam.

News

Wilson keeps fundraising lead over Silberberg in mayoral primary, McPike leads City Council candidates

By James Cullum

Published June 3, 2021 at 3:30PM

The June 8 Democratic primary is next Tuesday, and the latest fundraising totals show that Mayor Justin Wilson has still outraised his opponent, former Mayor Allison Silberberg.

Kirk McPike is also continuing to lead financially among City Council candidates.

News

City Council candidate thinks divisive local issues are Republican comeback opportunity

By Vernon Miles

Published June 3, 2021 at 1:15PM

It’s been nearly ten years since Republicans had a spot on the City Council, but Republican City Council candidate Darryl Nirenberg is hoping several divisive issues that have cropped up over the last couple years can help break the blue stranglehold on the city this November.

“Prospects for a Republican are better now than they have been for years,” Nirenberg said. “The issues facing our city, such as divisive plans to house adults on school grounds; road diets; promoting more density in the midst of a pandemic; neglect of our storm drains and infrastructure; and destroying green space — are not partisan.”

News

Former City Council member Willie Bailey announces bid for School Board

By Vernon Miles

Published June 2, 2021 at 4:30PM | Updated June 3, 2021 at 7:55AM

(Updated 6/3) In an election where former School Board member Bill Campbell is hoping to move to the City Council, former City Council member Willie Bailey is hoping to make the move in the other direction.

Bailey, an Army veteran and Deputy Chief of the Office of the Fire Marshal for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, was elected to the Alexandria City Council in 2015. Over the next three years, Bailey was one of the Council’s prominent advocates for greater emphasis on affordable housing and supporter of a controversial 1% increase to the city’s meals tax, and lost reelection in 2018.