Virginia Rising

2015 Candidate Questionnaire – Local Office

 Thank you for participating in the New Virginia Majority candidate questionnaire and interview process. New Virginia Majority organizes to create a Virginia that is democratic, just, and sustainable.  We do this through organizing communities of color, women, working people, LGBTs, and youth; and through leadership development, strategic communications, legislative advocacy and electoral campaigns. New Virginia Majority has visited over 500,000 voters and developed into Virginia’s leading progressive civic engagement organization.

Most of the questions are ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and there are opportunities for several longer answers. Our Board of Directors will review your responses and contact you if there are any follow-up questions.

Please submit your answers by Friday, April 10^th @ 7PM to Jon Liss, Co-Executive Director

CANDIDATE STATEMENT

I affirmatively seek the endorsement of New Virginia Majority and its members.

Name:

Office Sought:

Key Contact Person:

Committee Name:

Campaign Address:

Campaign Phone:

Campaign Website:

Candidate Signature: _______________________________________ Date: ___

CANDIDATE QUESTIONS

Housing:

1. Should the City require a Displacement Analysis that assesses the likely displacement of current residents, as part of the approval process for any special-use permit, zoning, small area plans or master plan modifications associated with the (re) development of any property with 40 or more apartments?  (Yes or No)
2. Should the City re-establish a ‘penny fund’ dedicating 1 cent for each $100 of assessed value?  Funding at this rate generates about $3 million / year in funds.  (Yes or No)
3. Alexandria has lost tens of thousands of affordable housing units over the last decade.  Please state your recommendations for preserving affordable housing in the City.  Please indicate how you define affordable housing.  (up to 100 words).

Economic Justice and Workers Rights:

1. Should the City reinstitute a revenue neutral property tax program that slightly raises the property tax rate and offers rebates to residents who earn less than the median income and whose home is valued at less than the medium house value?  (Yes or No)
2. Do you support maintaining the City of Alexandria’s Living Wage Ordinance? (Yes or No).  Do you support annually adjusting this wage to keep up with inflation? (Yes or No)
3. Do you support evaluating and raising City employees pay to rates commensurate with Arlington and Fairfax County?  (Yes or No)
4. Please state your beliefs and recommendations to promote economic justice and workers’ rights. (up to 100 words).

Maintaining a “Welcoming Alexandria”:

Do you support the Alexandria Library System issuing picture identification (at cost) to those who want it, provided that they can prove they live in the City and can demonstrate who they are?  (Yes or No)

If elected, would you support a Council resolution encouraging the state legislature to authorize the DMV to issue drivers licenses for all residents of the Commonwealth irrespective of their immigration status? (Yes or No)

Should city funds be used to support immigrants applying for citizenship or applying for temporary legal status through President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability?  (Yes or No)

What other recommendations do you have to maintain or enhance the City’s openness to New Americans? (up to 100 words)

Democracy and Racial Justice:

1. Would you support changing local election law to elect City Council by district as opposed to current at-large system? Such a system may result in greater representation for Alexandria’s immigrant community. (Yes or No)
2. Do you support tracking and releasing data to ascertain if there is racial bias in City policing?  (Yes or No)
3. Do you support having end users (beneficiaries) of City grant-supported human and social services involved in the evaluation of both services received (Yes or No) as well as evaluating proposals for funding? (Yes or No)
4. How would you make governmental decision-making more accessible, participatory and democratic? (up to 100 words)

Education: 

Do you support maintaining high levels of funding for Alexandria City Public Schools to support high achievement for all?  (Yes or No)

Do you support ongoing funding for Restorative Justice which seeks to reduce out of school discipline by involving students and their families?  (Yes or No)

Do you support funding for expanded pre-school opportunities for 4 year old Alexandrians?  (Yes or No)

How will you encourage a more sustainable Alexandria? (up to 150 words)

Your qualifications / Why should we support your candidacy? What is your history of working with and supporting low-income and people of color in Alexandria? (up to 200 words)

Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond to this questionnaire.

New Virginia Majority is a multiracial, multi-issue statewide organization that seeks to create a more participatory, just and sustainable Virginia through civic engagement, leadership development and advocacy.

Forward Together!