Frank Fannon | ALXnow

City Council candidates address sheriff’s ICE policy, taxes, more at civic association forum

Published April 9, 2026 at 4:30PM | Updated April 9, 2026 at 4:47PM

(Left to right): Sandy Marks, Frank Fannon and Alison O'Connell participate in an April 8 forum hosted by the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations (via Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations video)

With less than two weeks until the April 21 special election, candidates for an open seat on Alexandria City Council made their pitches to civic association members yesterday (Wednesday) at a forum.

Democratic candidate Sandy Marks and independent candidates Alison O’Connell and Frank Fannon joined the forum, held during Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations’ monthly meeting. Candidates answered questions on topics the civic association leaders selected, along with a lightning round of policies they would support or oppose.

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Alexandria City Council candidates face two forums this week as special election nears

By James Cullum

Published April 6, 2026 at 3:45PM

(Left to right) City Council candidates Alison O'Connell, Frank Fannon and Sandy Marks at the West End Business Association's forum at Feru Bar and Restaurant, March 25, 2026 (via Sandy Marks for the City/Facebook)

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.

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Three candidates for Alexandria City Council clash at West End forum

By James Cullum

Published March 26, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated March 27, 2026 at 10:18AM

(Left to right) City Council candidates Alison O'Connell, Frank Fannon and Sandy Marks at the West End Business Association's forum at Feru Bar and Restaurant, March 25, 2026 (via Sandy Marks for the City/Facebook)

Clear distinctions were made Wednesday night among the three candidates running in the April 21 special election for an open seat on the Alexandria City Council.

For an hour and a half on Wednesday night, Democratic candidate Sandy Marks and independent candidates Alison O’Connell and Frank Fannon discussed a wide range of topics, including taxes, the controversial bike lane proposal for Braddock Road, the pump station at Waterfront Park, federal immigration enforcement and more.

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City Council candidates to debate Wednesday in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum

Published March 23, 2026 at 12:30PM

(Left to right) City Council candidates Sandy Marks, Frank Fannon and Alison O'Connell (via West End Business Association)

Three candidates vying for an open seat on City Council will participate in a forum Wednesday (March 25) in Alexandria’s West End.

ALXnow is moderating the West End Business Association forum, which will be held at Feru Bar and Restaurant (512 S. Van Dorn Street, Unit D) from 5-7 p.m. The free event is open to the public and will feature Democratic candidate Sandy Marks and independent candidates Alison O’Connell and former City Councilman Frank Fannon.

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Democratic City Council candidate Sandy Marks lays out stakes in upcoming special election

By James Cullum

Published March 2, 2026 at 1:00PM

Sandy Marks, the Democratic nominee for the open City Council seat, at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

Fresh from her recent Democratic firehouse primary win, City Council candidate Sandy Marks says there’s a lot on the line in the upcoming special election.

Marks is facing independent candidates Frank Fannon and Alison O’Connell in the race, which is slated to coincide with a proposed constitutional amendment to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts.

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Independent candidate Alison O’Connell turning in signatures to join City Council special election

By James Cullum

Published February 27, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated February 27, 2026 at 4:53PM

Alison O'Connell (courtesy photo)

With today’s 5 p.m. deadline fast approaching, Alison O’Connell is working to submit 125 signatures needed to file an independent candidacy to run for Alexandria City Council.

O’Connell, a founding member of Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights, is hoping to run for City Council with platform issues that include affordable housing, ethical investment and anti-immigration enforcement measures. She and her team have been collecting signatures and turning them in throughout the day to the city’s registrar’s office, she told ALXnow this afternoon (Friday).

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Republican Gerry Chandler named nominee for City Council after Alexandria GOP cancels canvas

By James Cullum

Published February 24, 2026 at 3:00PM

Voting at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library in Alexandria's West End, Nov. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Republican Gerry Chandler intends to enter the April 21 race for City Council, the Alexandria Republican City Committee has announced.

Chandler is slated to run against Democrat Sandy Marks and independent candidate Frank Fannon in the upcoming special election to replace former Councilman-turned-Delegate R. Kirk McPike. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday to submit paperwork to the General Registrar to appear on the ballot.

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City Council candidates spar in second debate before Democratic firehouse primary

By James Cullum

Published February 18, 2026 at 3:45PM

(Left to right) Independent City Council candidate Frank Fannon speaks alongside Democratic candidates Roberto Gomez, Tim Laderach, Sandy Marks, Charles Sumpter and Cesar Madison Tapia at the Departmental Progressive Club in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Sparks flew last night (Tuesday) as City Council candidates debated topics like immigration enforcement and budgeting at the Departmental Progressive Club in Old Town.

The event was hosted by DPC and the Alexandria branch of the NAACP, and it was the second debate in two days for the five Alexandria Democrats vying for their party’s nomination in the upcoming Feb. 21 firehouse primary. Independent candidate Frank Fannon, a former Republican member of City Council, also participated and received significant pushback from several candidates for his opinions on governance, housing and immigration.

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Former Councilman Frank Fannon runs as independent in City Council special election

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum

Published February 17, 2026 at 8:15AM

Frank Fannon for Alexandria City Council (courtesy photo)

Frank Fannon, the last Republican to be elected to Alexandria City Council, will run for the office again in the April 21 special election.

Fannon announced his City Council campaign at the annual Friendship Firehouse Breakfast yesterday (Monday). The former councilmember told ALXnow he is running as an independent for the seat formerly held by Kirk McPike (D), who won the special election for Virginia’s 5th House District seat.

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Former councilman’s ‘Alexandrians Have Heart’ food, clothes drive returns tomorrow

By James Cullum

Published February 13, 2026 at 10:30AM

Former City Councilman Frank Fannon (center) and friends at the 2025 Alexandrians Have a Heart Food and Clothes Drive (courtesy photo)

Former Alexandria City Councilman Frank Fannon is hosting his 18th annual Alexandrians Have Heart food and clothes drive in Old Town on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Fannon started the drive after getting elected to City Council in 2008, and says that he’s hoping this year to deliver a record six Ford F-150-sized truck beds full of food and clothes to ALIVE!, Carpenter’s Shelter and Christ House.