By: Carla Branch
alexandrianews.org
Alexandria Democrats voted last night to hold a primary election to select City Council candidates. The primary will be held on June 12, the date for primaries to select candidates for the U. S. Senate and U. S. House of Representatives if necessary.
The City Council and Alexandria School Board elections will be held on Nov. 6, 2012. The current City Council is comprised of four Democrats, one Republican and one Independent. Mayor Bill Euille is a Democrat.
The Alexandria Republican City Committee website has no information regarding a primary election to select Council candidates. The one Republican who has announced his candidacy for Council is Scott Gordon. Republican Councilman Frank Fannon is expected to run for re-election but has made no announcement.
On the Democratic side, only Councilman Rob Krupicka has announced that he will not run. The other three Democrats, Vice Mayor Kerry Donley, Councilwoman Del Pepper and Councilman Paul Smedberg are expected to run again as are a number of other Democrats who will challenge Fannon. Those announcements are expected in early January.
Independent Councilwoman Alicia Hughes is now listed as a Republican on the ARCC website. She has made no announcement regarding her candidacy either but could run as a Republican as she no longer works in a federal job that precludes her from running with Party affiliation.
Candidates for 2012 elections can begin collecting signatures after Jan. 1, 2012. Virginia’s presidential primary will be held on March 6, 2012. Voter registration and absentee voting information is available at alexandriavoter.org.
