Alexandria’s political parties are scrambling to prepare for the special election to fill the seat of Vice Mayor Andrew Macdonald, who resigned Tuesday.
“It’s a true logistical challenge, especially with no warning,” Democratic Committee Chair Susan Kellom said.
By the city’s charter, there are at most 75 days from Macdonald’s resignation to hold a special election. Registrar Tom Parkins recommended a July 17 special election date at the council meeting Tuesday.
Alexandria’s Democratic and Republican committees must endorse candidates 30 days before the special election. Both parties already have a tentative list of a half-dozen candidates.
By Tuesday night, the same day Macdonald resigned, Justin Wilson announced his intention to run.Wilson said he’d wanted to run in the 2006 council race, but family obligations kept him from doing so. Now he’s ready to run, he said. By Wednesday evening, Wilson’s Web site listed the endorsements of the mayor and all the current council members.
Macdonald described Wilson as an insider during a phone interview with The Examiner Wednesday. He said he hopes someone interested in championing his causes, historic preservation and the environment takes his seat. Macdonald said he might endorse someone and noted that his former campaign manager, Boyd Walker, is considering a run.
Kellom said that in addition to Walker, Mark Feldheim, Matt Natale and Jim Lay are considering running.
The nature of a special primary, with only one seat open and fewer candidates, may help Republican chances in the Democratic city, committee chair Chris Marston said. All the current council members are Democrats. A special election in the middle of summer will mean a real voter turnout challenge, he said.
Townsend van Fleet, Pat Troy, Bernie Schulz, Allison DiNardo and Bill Cleveland are considering running as Republicans, Marston said.
The Republican committee most likely will hold a canvass, or a vote among its candidates at one polling station, by Memorial Day, Marston said.
The Democrats will hold an informal primary at Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center to elect their candidate, Kellom said. The proposed date is June 9.
