Alexandria City Council Candidates Forum
Oct. 6 Event Provides Voters Opportunity to Hear Directly from Candidates on Key Issues
Alexandria—On Oct. 6, candidates sparring for advantage in the upcoming Nov. 3 elections will engage the public at the Cora Kelly Recreation Center.
The forum sponsored by Tenants and Workers United (TWU), the Alexandria NAACP and the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), will be moderated by Canek Aguirre. The event is designed to allow for the candidates to engage voters from many of Alexandria’s often unrepresented groups including low income, students, African-American, Latino and Immigrant communities.
It will also provide interpretation services for Spanish-only speakers.
“This is our way of ensuring that communities often ignored are given full access to the voting process,” said Evelin Urrutia, TWU’s director of organizing. “Our hope is to make sure candidate’s go on the record regarding the issues that are important to the communities we serve such as affordable housing, a living wage, economic justice and worker rights as well as things like restorative justice programs in our schools and communities,” added Urrutia.
Invited and confirmed candidates include:
- Willie F. Bailey Sr. -Democratic
- John Taylor Chapman -Democratic
- Timothy B. Lovain -Democratic
- Redella S. “Del” Pepper -Democratic
- Paul C. Smedberg -Democratic
- Justin M. Wilson -Democratic
- Monique A. Miles -Republican
- Fernando M. Torrez -Republican
- Townsend A. Van Fleet -Republican
- John R. “Bob” Wood -Republican
- D. Phil Cefaratti –Independent*
*invited, not yet confirmed
“It’s important that we continue to create opportunities for candidates to hear directly from the people—before they are elected to office,” said LaDonna Sanders, President of the Alexandria NAACP. “This forum will allow individuals running for office to prove where they stand on issues important to the African-American community such as police brutality, economic opportunity and investment in educational programs for youth,” added Sanders.
For Fay Slotnick, Chair of the Parent Leadership Training Institute of Alexandria, the forum will be a great opportunity to hold candidates accountable for issues affecting parents and children. “How do we make life better for parents and children in ways that improve their ability to participate and be successful in society?” she asked. “These are the issues our participants care about, and I’m looking forward to hearing the candidates’ responses to them.”
Contact: Malik Russell 703-589-0856
Spanish-Language Media Contact: Evelin Urrutia (703) 684-5697 ext. 303
###
Leave a comment
