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Alexandria City Council candidates focus on racial equity, affordable housing and flooding in DPC forum

By James Cullum
A voter leaves City Hall after casting a callot (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Affordable housing took center stage on Tuesday night, as Alexandria’s mayoral and City Council candidates participated in a long candidates forum hosted by the Departmental Progressive Club (DPC).

During the forum, former Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg praised the Tuesday unveiling of the Lineage affordable apartment complex in Old Town earlier that day. Silberberg voted against a rezoning for the project on one of her first meetings as mayor in February 2016. That vote was unanimously rescinded days later.

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Election: Wilson, McPike top fundraising leaderboard in run up to June 8 Democratic primary

By James Cullum
Voting at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray, November 3, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The June 8 Democratic primary is only 49 days away, and Mayor Justin Wilson has raised the most money of any candidate in the city. Kirk McPike is also leading among City Council candidates.

Below are fundraising totals from the Virginia Public Access Project, as of March 31, 2021.

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Mayor Justin Wilson says 2021 Democratic primary is about the future, not a rerun of 2018

By James Cullum
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson speaks at the swearing-in ceremony for Clerk of Court Greg Parks on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson doesn’t want to hold any other political office. He also wants to be elected at least once more in November, and in less than two months he’ll square off in a Democratic primary rematch against his political rival, former Mayor Allison Silberberg.

Wilson says the June 8 primary really isn’t about he and Silberberg, but more about the direction that the city wants to go. In fact, he never mentioned his opponent by name during a 45-minute conversation with ALXnow. He’s raised $90,000 to Silberberg’s $64,000, hired Henry Watkins (Sen. Adam Ebbin’s Chief of staff) as his campaign manager, and has a goal of knocking on more than 2,000 doors.

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JUST IN: Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Jennifer McClellan highlights race, women issues in Old Town

By James Cullum

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-31) was in Old Town Thursday to introduce “Women For McClellan”, an initiative to send more than 75 her female supporters around the state in the run up to the June 8 Democratic primary.

McLellan held the event outside fibre space in Old Town, although shop owner Danielle Romanetti could not participate. It was her second event outside the shop, which has gained attention since being visited by Vice President Kamala Harris and being featured on GMA3 and Lifetime.

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Silberberg addresses old defeats and new challenges in campaign to reclaim mayorship

By Vernon Miles

Former Mayor Allison Silberberg very publicly didn’t plan on running against Mayor Justin Wilson in the Democratic primary, but as weeks slipped by and no other challenger came forward — and Council Member Mo Seifeldein dropped out — Silberberg said she felt she needed to step up.

Three years after Silberberg lost her reelection bid to Wilson, she’s back to reclaim the position.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Birchmere founder co-writes book about venue — “For local author, musician and professional research expert Steve Moore, joining Birchmere founder Gary Oelze in writing a book about the history of the renowned and legendary Alexandria music venue, due out in June, is a true joy beyond compare.” [Zebra]

Today’s weather — “Cloudy with light rain developing later in the day. High 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%… Rain early (in the evening)…then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.” [Weather.com]

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Alexandria woman wins $1 million in lottery — “Clarice Chandler told lottery officials “it was just by chance” she bought a ticket at Royal Farms at 5301 Jefferson Davis Highway in Fredericksburg. She claimed her prize three months later, becoming one of four $1 million winners in the New Year’s Day drawing.” [Patch]

Florence King joining City Council race as independent — “An Alexandria resident and business owner for thirty years, Florence M. King filed the organizational paperwork as an Independent candidate to get on the ballot, and is running for one of the six open seats on Alexandria’s City Council.” [Zebra]

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum
Walking along the Potomac River at Founders Park in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Coronavirus vaccine eligibility expanded — Every Virginian 16 and older will be eligible for the #COVID19 vaccine by April 18–but several health districts have already expanded vaccinations to all adults or will be doing so in the coming days.” [Twitter]

Alexandria expanding vaccine phase 1C — “AHD follows the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) guidance that considers a frontline essential workers’ vaccine eligibility based upon their workplace location. This means that there are Alexandria residents working in essential frontline roles outside of the city limits of Alexandria who have yet to be vaccinated as a result of their employer jurisdiction’s supply availability. Therefore, before moving to Phase 2, AHD will offer vaccine appointments to all Alexandria residents who work in Phase 1 industries, regardless of their workplace location. If you are an essential frontline worker in Phase 1a, 1b, or 1c living in Alexandria and have not yet received a vaccine appointment, pre-register online or update your pre-registration record to ensure that the job category in your profile is correct.” [City of Alexandria]

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Wilson wins Alexandria Democratic Committee straw poll, Gaskins takes top spot over incumbents

By James Cullum
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)

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, three incumbent members of City Council and three newcomers won the seventh annual Alexandria Democratic Committee Straw Poll on Monday night.

The unofficial and unscientific contest is held before every Council primary and is one of the first indicators of how voters are leaning. The 2021 Democratic primary for the six-seat Council is packed with 13 candidates and two mayoral candidates.

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