DBA doesn't like the attack flyer mailed out in the past couple of days - and not just because it attacks a candidate whom we've endorsed. We've posted an announcement (press release) about why this flyer is just plain wrong.
(For those looking for some background, see Patch articles here and here.)
Monday, June 11, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
DBA endorses six candidates for City Council
Democrats for a Better Alexandria (DBA) invited all Democratic candidates for the Council to complete an extensive questionnaire and to participate in a person-to-person interview. Eleven candidates completed this vetting process. Of these, DBA recommends the following six to Alexandria voters:
* John Taylor Chapman, an educator, is former head of the Alexandria NAACP, president of the city’s Young Democrats and a member of the Alexandria School Board’s Budget Advisory Committee. He is a resident of Taylor Run.
* Tim Lovain, a specialist on transportation policy and a former member of City Council. He lives in the North Ridge neighborhood.
* Sammie Moshenberg, a 29-year resident of Alexandria, the director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Jewish Women, and a former member of the City’s Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee. She lives in Potomac West.
* Arthur Peabody, an attorney and current member of the Alexandria School Board and former chairman. He resides in Seminary Hill.
* Boyd Walker, a small business owner and civic activist noted for his emphasis on historic preservation and restoration. He is an Old Town resident.
* Justin Wilson, a former member of Council and past chairman of the Alexandria Transit System, which operates the DASH buses. He resides in Del Ray.
In making this selection, DBA looked for candidates committed to a set of forward-looking set of priorities and practices including the following:
1. Revising the citywide Master Plan. Future development projects should take place within the confines of a coherent Master Plan rather than through a patchwork of ad hoc decisions driven by developer opportunism. A revised plan should guide appropriate land use; protect neighborhoods; guard our historic legacy; value open space; include an efficient, modern transportation system; and, ensure shared public/private support for new infrastructure requirements.
2. Providing for sufficient affordable housing. We need to protect the city’s diminishing stock of affordable housing and to ensure, to the greatest extent feasible, that further in-fill development provides for additional or, at a minimum, proportional replacement housing and amenities.
3. Providing the highest quality education. Alexandria is spending more, but its children are benefiting less, when looking at comparable cities across the country. Changing demographic patterns and workforce needs are increasing the pressure on the existing system, thus pointing to the urgency of overcoming current shortcomings and providing better education.
4. Instituting transparent city government processes. Good processes involving the Mayor, Council and City staff include opening important decisions to timely and meaningful input by the public. The need for open decision-making is clearly evident in the on-going controversies surrounding BRAC and the planning for the Waterfront and the Beauregard corridor.
***************
DBA is a registered political action committee (PAC) authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its Steering Committee is co-chaired by Dorathea Peters and Jack Sullivan. The other members of the Steering Committee are John Broughton, Helen Desfosses, Bill Dickinson, George Foote, Dick Hobson, Carol James, Rod Kuckro, Ernie Lehmann, Dick Moose, and Tom Parry.
* John Taylor Chapman, an educator, is former head of the Alexandria NAACP, president of the city’s Young Democrats and a member of the Alexandria School Board’s Budget Advisory Committee. He is a resident of Taylor Run.
* Tim Lovain, a specialist on transportation policy and a former member of City Council. He lives in the North Ridge neighborhood.
* Sammie Moshenberg, a 29-year resident of Alexandria, the director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Jewish Women, and a former member of the City’s Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee. She lives in Potomac West.
* Arthur Peabody, an attorney and current member of the Alexandria School Board and former chairman. He resides in Seminary Hill.
* Boyd Walker, a small business owner and civic activist noted for his emphasis on historic preservation and restoration. He is an Old Town resident.
* Justin Wilson, a former member of Council and past chairman of the Alexandria Transit System, which operates the DASH buses. He resides in Del Ray.
In making this selection, DBA looked for candidates committed to a set of forward-looking set of priorities and practices including the following:
1. Revising the citywide Master Plan. Future development projects should take place within the confines of a coherent Master Plan rather than through a patchwork of ad hoc decisions driven by developer opportunism. A revised plan should guide appropriate land use; protect neighborhoods; guard our historic legacy; value open space; include an efficient, modern transportation system; and, ensure shared public/private support for new infrastructure requirements.
2. Providing for sufficient affordable housing. We need to protect the city’s diminishing stock of affordable housing and to ensure, to the greatest extent feasible, that further in-fill development provides for additional or, at a minimum, proportional replacement housing and amenities.
3. Providing the highest quality education. Alexandria is spending more, but its children are benefiting less, when looking at comparable cities across the country. Changing demographic patterns and workforce needs are increasing the pressure on the existing system, thus pointing to the urgency of overcoming current shortcomings and providing better education.
4. Instituting transparent city government processes. Good processes involving the Mayor, Council and City staff include opening important decisions to timely and meaningful input by the public. The need for open decision-making is clearly evident in the on-going controversies surrounding BRAC and the planning for the Waterfront and the Beauregard corridor.
***************
DBA is a registered political action committee (PAC) authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its Steering Committee is co-chaired by Dorathea Peters and Jack Sullivan. The other members of the Steering Committee are John Broughton, Helen Desfosses, Bill Dickinson, George Foote, Dick Hobson, Carol James, Rod Kuckro, Ernie Lehmann, Dick Moose, and Tom Parry.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Completed questionnaires
DBA received, by the deadline given, completed questionnaires from 11 of the 14 Democrats who are running for six seats on the Alexandria City Council. Those questionnaires have been posted and can be found via the following links:
* John Taylor Chapman
* Donna Fossum
* Tim Lovain
* Vicky Mejivar
* Sammie Moshenburg
* Arthur Peabody, Jr.
* Del Pepper
* Allison Silberberg
* Paul Smedberg
* Boyd Walker
* Justin Wilson
Between April 1 and April 16, members of DBA interviewed each of these candidates. A typical interview involved four or five DBA members and lasted for about an hour. DBA appreciates the time these candidates gave in completing the questionnaires and finding time in their busy schedules to answer our questions.
One candidate completed and return the questionnaire after the deadline; the responses can be found at this link:
* Melissa Feld
Two candidates received questionnaires but did not return them:
* Michael A. Hepburn
* Sean Holihan
* John Taylor Chapman
* Donna Fossum
* Tim Lovain
* Vicky Mejivar
* Sammie Moshenburg
* Arthur Peabody, Jr.
* Del Pepper
* Allison Silberberg
* Paul Smedberg
* Boyd Walker
* Justin Wilson
Between April 1 and April 16, members of DBA interviewed each of these candidates. A typical interview involved four or five DBA members and lasted for about an hour. DBA appreciates the time these candidates gave in completing the questionnaires and finding time in their busy schedules to answer our questions.
One candidate completed and return the questionnaire after the deadline; the responses can be found at this link:
* Melissa Feld
Two candidates received questionnaires but did not return them:
* Michael A. Hepburn
* Sean Holihan
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Questionnaires
A copy of the questionnaire that we sent in March to all Democratic candidates for Alexandria City Council can be found here. Later this month, we'll make public the responses we've received. (To date, nine candidates have answered our questionnaire.)
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Our candidate questionnaire is out
DBA has sent a questionnaire to all 14 Democratic candidates who have announced for the June 12 primary election.
The full press release is here.
Friday, March 16, 2012
DBA Begins
On March 5th, Democrats for a Better Alexandria (DBA) issued its first press release, describing why the organization was created, and what its goals are: to identify and support those Democratic candidates for Alexandria City Council who the group thinks will best handle such issues as land use; traffic and transportation; green open space; transparency, accountability, efficiency, and civility in government; and adequate affordable housing.
DBA was covered on March 6 by the Alexandria Times: "Democrats for a Better Alexandria Announces Formation", and in a front page article in that newspaper's printed edition of March 8, "Local Democrats are Shaking Up the Political Landscape, But What Does Party Affiliation Mean in Alexandria".
DBA was covered on March 6 by the Alexandria Times: "Democrats for a Better Alexandria Announces Formation", and in a front page article in that newspaper's printed edition of March 8, "Local Democrats are Shaking Up the Political Landscape, But What Does Party Affiliation Mean in Alexandria".
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