election | ALXnow

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

Published June 25, 2021 at 3:30PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

What was an intense week in Alexandria. Here is the rundown.

History was made, as the new marquees at Alexandria City High School and Naomi L. Brooks Elementary Schools were unveiled this week, and the name changes to T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School will go into effect July 1. It’s a victory for civil rights, as the namesakes of both old schools had backgrounds steeped in racism. Maury was a Confederate leader and Williams was an ACPS superintendent who worked intently against racial integration.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 25, 2021 at 5:00AM

Council defers on School Resource Officer funding reallocation — “On Tuesday, Alexandria City Council deferred a decision on releasing funding for school resource officers for other positions at Alexandria City Public Schools. The decision is scheduled for a July 6 public hearing.” [Patch]

Levine agrees to pay for primary mailer on House letterhead — “Levine, who lost both his primary contests, said in an interview he saw the mailing as an “informational letter” explaining the unique circumstances of why he was appearing on the ballot twice. He said he still doesn’t think it clearly qualified as campaign advertising, but agreed to reimburse the clerk’s office to clear up the matter after others complained.” [Virginia Mercury]

News

After dual election losses, Mark Levine says he’s deciding his next move

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2021 at 10:45AM | Updated June 24, 2021 at 4:17PM

Delegate Mark Levine isn’t out of the politics game yet, but he’s keeping his cards close and still hasn’t made up his mind about next moves.

It’s been weeks since Levine lost the Democratic nomination for both seats he sought in the June 8 primary, as Del. Hala Ayala won the lieutenant governor’s primary race and Alexandria Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker won the nomination for his Delegate seat for the 45th District.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 18, 2021 at 3:30PM

It was a surprising week in Alexandria.

Our top story by far was on the venomous rattlesnake found in Old Town on Sunday. The timber snake, which also goes by the name American Viper, was discovered in the 400 block of Gibbon Street — a few blocks from the waterfront. It didn’t bite anyone, and was apprehended by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Animal Services team and later moved to a wildlife facility in Northern Virginia.

News

Captain Sean Casey wins Democratic primary and is running unopposed for Sheriff in November

By James Cullum

Published June 15, 2021 at 1:00PM | Updated June 15, 2021 at 5:45PM

Three minutes before polls closed on June 8 — the day of the Democratic primary — Captain Sean Casey was at the City’s Office of Voter Registrations and Elections. He wanted to see if anyone was running against him for sheriff.

It was slightly anticlimactic.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2021 at 3:35PM | Updated June 11, 2021 at 6:27PM

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)

History was made this week in Alexandria.

Our top story was on Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson winning the Democratic primary on Tuesday, defeating former Mayor Allison Silberberg. Alexandria historically votes for democratic mayors, and Wilson faces off against Republican candidate Annetta Catchings in November.

Opinion

Poll: Did you vote in Alexandria’s Democratic primary?

By Vernon Miles

Published June 9, 2021 at 4:45PM

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

Months of campaigning came to a head last night as Mayor Justin Wilson and three City Council incumbents held onto their seats despite opposition and the three new members of the City Council were among those most closely aligned with the incumbents.

The city also had relatively high levels of voter turnout for a non-Presidential election year, with 23% of registered voters showing up to the polls.

News

Democratic primary settled in Alexandria, but underlying issues linger

By Vernon Miles

Published June 9, 2021 at 3:45PM | Updated June 9, 2021 at 5:46PM

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)

Last night was a rout for a vocal contingent of Alexandrians pushing for a change in city leadership, but both top dogs in the local Democratic party and their opposition say the fight isn’t over.

At Los Tios Grill in Del Ray, former Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg told enthusiastic supporters that conversations over issues like the Seminary Road Diet and Taylor Run Stream restoration project would continue, although the candidates who put those issues at the forefronts of their campaigns lost.

News

Three incumbents and lots of newcomers running for Alexandria School Board this November

By James Cullum

Published June 9, 2021 at 1:00PM | Updated June 9, 2021 at 4:24PM

With the June 8 filing deadline, it’s confirmed that major changes are coming to the Alexandria School Board, as only three incumbents have filed to run for reelection.

Vice Chair Veronica Nolan is not seeking reelection in District B, and neither are Members Cindy M. Anderson and Margaret Lorber.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

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.