Ask City Council Candidates!
Friday, Oct. 5 is the last day to post/vote for Oct. 15 forum!
What would you ask the candidates?
Civic engagement is what ACTion Alexandria is all about and what's more civic than voting? It's been a boisterous year in city politics, and with more than a baker's dozen worth of candidates running for City Council, it's hard for a lot of us to figure out which candidates best represent our vision for our community.
So, we're turning the tables on traditional political debates by giving YOU the starring role in our online forum.
It's your turn to Ask The Candidates!
If you were moderator of your own City Council candidate debate, what would you ask the candidates? Now's your chance to let the candidates know what you think are the important issues.
Post Your Question
Post your questions in our public forum and/or vote up the questions you most want City Council candidates to answer, and we'll make sure the candidates see them and work with the candidates and political parties to get some responses. Let's create a public forum where everyone can see what Alexandria residents think are the important issues.
To post your question, click "Add Your Idea" below and ask away!
Vote for Questions
Each registered member of ACTion Alexandria has three votes to assign anyway they choose. Vote for your favorite question three times, vote once for three different questions--it's up to you.
The Rules
- Ask questions only! Our focus is on the City Council elections and candidates only.
- Keep it civil. Civility is golden here. We'll remove questions and comments that are not civil. You will also be removed for posting them.
- Real people use real names.
- If you work for a candidate, please disclose that. It'll end up being embarassing if you don't.
- Pontificating, accusations, and insults will not be tolerated.
Ideas
Dear Candidates for Alexandria City Council, What are your plans for making Alexandria more livable? Specifically, how will you implement effective measures and programs to improve infrastructure and traffic flow for pedestrians and bicyclists in the City? The City has made...
There is much data to suggest that the most economically sensible and most developmentally effective time to impact a child's life is in the very early years (0-5). What do you plan to do to increase investment and ensure best practice programs for this age group?
What is your stance on allowing food trucks to serve in Alexandria? While I appreciated the city's stab at this by inviting restaurants in Old Town to set up carts, that program has not seemed effective from a consumer's point of view. Food trucks bring a variety of flavors and create a festive...
How highly do you priortize funding for Health and Human Services versus funding for other areas? If elected, do you see yourself voting to increase, decrease, or maintain current levels of City spending for Health & Human Services?
There is much talk about affordable housing, and that Alexandria must do more. What would you change about the city's current development policies and practices that have contributed to this situation?
Disclosure- I am the current volunteer treasurer for John Chapman, and I volunteered for Justin Wilson's prior campaign. I donated money to both of them, and to Sean Holihan and Paul Smedberg, over the past few years. I know all of the candidates and previously sued Arthur Peabody for regarding...
George Washington Middle School students found high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Winkler Botanical preserve in late 2011. These levels were mostly concentrated around the areas where storm drain water was leading into the preserve.This information was presented to City...
A number of candidates are talking about buying the private land on the waterfront, spending city money to create trolley's instead of BRT, and to buy historic properties. How would you balance these capital spending items with current plans to build new classroom space for the schools,...
How do you weigh the need to increase Alexandria's tax base, to keep Alexandria competitve with other areas of the D.C. region, and to take advantage of Alexandria's geographic location and access to public transportation with community concerns about the potential effect of development on...
What, if any, role do you think that the City Council should play in addressing the capacity issues (too many students for the number of spots in existing elementary schools) currently faced by ACPS? How do you propose that the City Council should work with the school board and...
How highly do you priortize funding for Health and Human Services versus funding for other areas? If elected, do you see yourself voting to increase, decrease, or maintain current levels of City spending for Health & Human Services?
What is your stance on allowing food trucks to serve in Alexandria? While I appreciated the city's stab at this by inviting restaurants in Old Town to set up carts, that program has not seemed effective from a consumer's point of view. Food trucks bring a variety of flavors and create a festive...
Do you have the courage to state which other five candidates, in your opinion, would best serve as colleagues of yours on City Council? If so, who do you want to serve on City Council with you. [Please don't say either "they would all make great council members" or "it's up for...
There is much talk about affordable housing, and that Alexandria must do more. What would you change about the city's current development policies and practices that have contributed to this situation?
Disclosure- I am the current volunteer treasurer for John Chapman, and I volunteered for Justin Wilson's prior campaign. I donated money to both of them, and to Sean Holihan and Paul Smedberg, over the past few years. I know all of the candidates and previously sued Arthur Peabody for regarding...
How do you weigh the need to increase Alexandria's tax base, to keep Alexandria competitve with other areas of the D.C. region, and to take advantage of Alexandria's geographic location and access to public transportation with community concerns about the potential effect of development on...
Dear Candidates for Alexandria City Council, What are your plans for making Alexandria more livable? Specifically, how will you implement effective measures and programs to improve infrastructure and traffic flow for pedestrians and bicyclists in the City? The City has made...
Considering the Council's history of not listening to its constituents in Alexandria, many voters want their elected officials to represent their needs, not follow party politics. How will you represent your constituent’s concerns, even against your fellow Democrats?
Verizon FiOS is the major competitor to Comcast for internet service in Northern Virginia. Our neighbors in Fairfax and Arlington counties have FiOS service but Alexandria does not. Verizon negotiated with Alexandria to bring FiOS to our city, but delays in reaching an agreement...
The City Council recently voted to take funds provided by the state that were meant for the school system and used them to help with the City's budget. Please explain why you agree or disagree with the action taken by City Council and what kind of commitment you would make to funding the...