Sandy Marks | ALXnow

City Council briefed on student questioning, privacy rules in new ACPS agreement with APD

Published May 27, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Tuesday (May 26), Alexandria City Council was briefed on changes to the recently approved memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Alexandria Police Department and Alexandria City Public Schools.

As no action was required from City Council Tuesday, City Council members did not formally endorse the updated MOU approved earlier this month by the School Board. ACPS previously extended the 2023–2025 agreement while the city’s School Law Enforcement Partnership subcommittee, which is made up of members of City Council, the School Board and APD staff, finalized the new language.

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‘Faith in Housing’ bill on by-right affordable housing will require new ordinance in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published May 18, 2026 at 3:45PM

Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

A bill allowing church-based by-right housing development and several other laws passed during the 2026 Virginia General Assembly will require or allow local action, according to a presentation to Alexandria City Council last week (May 12).

Wendy Ginsberg, the city’s legislative director, provided an update on key bills the city has been tracking or will be impacted by during City Council’s May 12 meeting. Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, which means localities can only use authority granted through state law.

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City Council members revive Old Town Business Improvement District discussion after previous failed attempts

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated May 14, 2026 at 2:26PM

Members of the Alexandria City Council at the Chamber ALX's annual City Council Breakfast at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town on May 14, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Despite multiple failed attempts over the past decade, two Alexandria City Council members advocated Thursday (May 14) for bringing a Business Improvement District to Old Town.

Under a challenging economic outlook, City Council Members Sandy Marks and John Taylor Chapman said that Old Town’s business community needs an organized push to attract visitors. The council members made the remarks during the Chamber ALX’s annual City Council Breakfast, which was held at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town (1767 King Street).

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Sandy Marks sworn into Alexandria City Council, creating historic first-ever female majority

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2026 at 10:00AM

Alexandria City Councilwoman Sandy Marks gets sworn in by Clerk of Court Greg Parks on May 12, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Sandy Marks, the former chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, was sworn in to City Council Tuesday night.

For the first time in the city’s history, Alexandria’s seven-member City Council now has a female majority, as Marks joins Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and Councilwoman Jacinta Greene. Marks won her seat on council in the April 21 special election for the seat vacated by former Councilman R. Kirk McPike, who won his own special election to fill the vacant 5th District seat in the House of Delegates.

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Sandy Marks swearing-in next week will create Alexandria’s first woman-majority City Council

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2026 at 3:45PM

Democrat Sandy Marks claims victory in the City Council special election (via James Minichello Photography)

Incoming City Councilwoman Sandy Marks’ swearing-in is scheduled next week, creating Alexandria’s first woman-majority council in the city’s 277-year history.

Marks will be sworn into office before City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, May 12, at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive), following her special election win on April 21. Marks’ entry will signal the seven-member council’s first-ever woman majority, which includes Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and Councilwoman Jacinta Greene.

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City Council special election winner Sandy Marks to be sworn in May 12

By James Cullum

Published April 24, 2026 at 12:30PM

Democrat Sandy Marks claims victory in the City Council special election (via James Minichello Photography)

Democrat Sandy Marks, the winner of the April 21 City Council special election, will be sworn into office Tuesday, May 12, according to the city.

Marks will get sworn in before City Council at some point during its legislative meeting at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive), the city confirmed to ALXnow. An exact time for the swearing-in ceremony has not been set, although it will be administered by Clerk of Court Greg Parks.

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Marks claims win in City Council race, Alexandrians largely support redistricting

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum

Published April 21, 2026 at 8:35PM | Updated April 22, 2026 at 5:15PM

Democrat Sandy Marks speaks at Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ in Del Ray after her City Council special election win (staff photo by James Cullum)

Democrat Sandy Marks has claimed victory in the special election for City Council Tuesday, and Alexandrians overwhelmingly voted yes on the redistricting constitutional amendment.

According to unofficial election results, Marks leads with 53.37% of votes over independent candidates Frank Fannon (29.41%) and Alison O’Connell (15.02%), 32 precincts reporting vote tallies. There have been 51,256 ballots cast out of 116,366 registered voters, representing 44% turnout.

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Turnout tops 42% as redistricting vote, City Council race draw Alexandrians to polls

By James Cullum

Published April 21, 2026 at 3:55PM | Updated April 21, 2026 at 4:29PM

Charles Houston Recreation Center on Election Day, April 21, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

More than 42% of registered Alexandria voters have headed to the polls to vote on today’s congressional redistricting referendum and a special election for an open seat on Alexandria City Council.

As of 4 p.m., 19,183 voters cast in-person ballots across the city, in addition to 22,836 mail-in and in-person early ballots, adding up to 42,019 total ballots cast, according to figures released by Angie Maniglia Turner, the city’s general registrar and elections director. Turner said she is expecting gubernatorial-level turnout on the decision to amend Virginia’s Constitution to allow the General Assembly to temporarily redraw congressional maps for the upcoming election and resume the normal redistricting process after the 2030 U.S. Census.

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Tuesday’s special election ballot includes City Council race, redistricting amendment

By Emily Leayman

Published April 20, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated April 20, 2026 at 5:12PM

Signs supporting and opposing redistricting on April 6, 2026 in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Tuesday, April 21 marks Election Day in Alexandria for a statewide redistricting voter referendum and a special election for a City Council seat.

Candidates in the City Council special election are Democrat 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.

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

By Emily Leayman

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.