VOTERS' GUIDE

Last Day to Register to Vote in the May 6 Election
Monday, April 7, 2003

Alexandria Voter Registrar

The League of Women Voters asked all candidates to return the following questionnaire.  Reprints of this online Voters' Guide will be distributed in the public libraries and will be available at candidate forums. Each candidate was  asked to give a 50 word biography, and to use no more than 200 words to answer any, some, or all of the following questions:

1. What are your projections regarding the increased value of real estate  assessments, and what use would you envision for this increased revenue?
2. Do you foresee a solution to affordable housing? What would it be? (If yes or no, amplify your answer.)
3. How would you fix conditions/overcrowding of our public schools?
4. Do you have alternative choices/solutions for transit/transportation within the city? What are your priorities.
5. What is the greatest challenge you see facing City Council and how would  you address it?

Many of the candidates also provided us with addresses for their Web sites and we have included links to them as well.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government. The League does not support any political party or candidate. Candidates are listed below in alphabetical order. 

The Alexandria City Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council members who are elected at-large for three-year terms. Any in-term vacancy is filled by a special election unless the vacancy occurs within six months of the end of the term, at which time a judicial appointment is made.

The Mayor, who is chosen on a separate ballot, presides over meetings of the Council and serves as the ceremonial head of government. The Mayor does not have the power to veto Council action. Council members traditionally choose the person receiving the most votes in the election to serve as Vice Mayor. In the absence or disability of the Mayor, the Vice Mayor performs the mayoral duties. The Mayor receives $25,000, and other Council members receive $20,000 per year.

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• William C. "Bill" Cleveland, Republican
  
• William D. "Bill" Euille, Democrat
  
• Townsend A. "Van" Van Fleet, Independent

Candidates for Alexandria City Council

• Keith D. Burner, Republican

• Allison W. Cryor, Republican

• Claire M. Eberwein, Republican

• Ludwig P. Gaines, Democrat

• Rob K. Krupicka, Democrat

• Andrew H. Macdonald, Democrat

• Judy McVay, Republican

• Matthew T. Natale, Republican

• Redella S. "Del" Pepper, Democrat

• John Reardon, Republican

• Paul C. Smedberg, Democrat

• Patrick R. "Pat" Troy, Independent

• Joyce Woodson, Democrat

  Click on the links above to read go to the candidates' responses.

William C. "Bill" Cleveland, Republican

Biography: Vice Mayor from 1991-1994 and 2000-current. Councilman since 1988. Alexandria resident since 1974. US Capitol police officer since 1976. Married. Two children; seven grandchildren. Founded Alexandria's Neighborhood Watch program. Initiated Mt. Vernon Enterprise Zone and Del Ray Farmers' Market. Mentor in The Untouchables, a program for male youth at-risk. www.clevelandformayor.org

1. What are your projections regarding the increased value of real estate assessments, and what use would you envision for this increased revenue?

My first priority is relief for Alexandria homeowners and, indirectly, for renters. The 25% average increase in assessments exceeds the 7% revenue increase projected by the City Budget. My proposal would cap total annual tax bills, give expanded relief to those on fixed incomes, and provide greater disclosure to homeowners regarding the bottom line impact of rising assessments.

2. Do you foresee a solution to affordable housing? What would it be? (If yes or no, amplify your answer.)

My home affordability proposal above is intended to help ensure our residents aren't driven out of the City by high tax bills.

3. How would you fix conditions/overcrowding of our public schools?

The new Tucker Elementary School and the expansion of Hammond and George Washington Middle Schools and T.C. Williams High School have had my early and full support.

4. Do you have alternative choices/solutions for transit/transportation within the city? What are your priorities?

Public transportation must be more available and convenient. I ride Metro to work. I want developers to provide shuttles to the Metro. As Mayor, I'll press Metro to give Alexandria a full vote on its Board.

5. What is the greatest challenge you see facing City Council and how would you address it?

The challenge is for Alexandrians to choose which mayoral and Council candidates reflect their views and priorities. As Mayor, my priority will be to lead a new era of open and responsive government. I have opposed dense development such as the PTO campus on Duke Street because I believe it will cause traffic gridlock that will harm neighborhoods.

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William D. "Bill" Euille, Democrat

• Native Alexandrian for 52 years
  
• T.C. Williams H.S. ('68)
  
• B.S. in Accounting ('72), Quinnipiac College
  
• President/CEO - Wm. D. Euille & Associates, Inc.
  
• City Councilman - 1994-Present
  
• School Board Member - 1974-1984
  
• Community Activist
• www.euilleformayor.com

1. What are your projects regarding the increased value of real estate assessments, and what use would you envision for this increased revenue?

Writing, although creative, seems like work to me.assessments are being driven by a very hot real estate market, compounded with low interest rates and a very high desire to live in Alexandria because of our excellent "quality of life". This increase will enable the City to balance its budget for FY'04 and allow for a reasonable real estate tax rate reduction for which I will be advocating.

2. Do you foresee a solution to affordable housing? What would it be?  (If yes or no, amplify your answer.)

Absolutely. I am committed to providing, the leadership to both identify additional funding and partner with a non-profit Community Development Corp. (CDC) to assist in developing new housing, including rental and homeownership which will be affordable for all of our citizens.

3. How would you fix conditions/overcrowding of our public schools?

As the "Education Mayor" for our City, I will provide the leadership to complete the on-going renovation/expansion programs for all school facilities, including a new and green T.C. Williams H.S., in collaboration with the School Board.

4. Do you have alternative choices/solutions for transit/transportation within the city? What are your priorities?

Yes. I will be advocating for expanded mass transit initiatives and traffic congestion reductions via a City-wide Transportation Management Plan.

5. What is the greatest challenge you see facing City Council and how would you address it?

Maintaining Alexandria as an affordable city in which to live, work and raise a family. We must raise our optimism.

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Townsend A. "Van" Van Fleet, Independent

• Alexandria resident for 18 years.
  
• Education: West Point Graduate
  Army War College Graduate
  Shippensburg State College (MS), Public Administration
  
• Career: Army, 23 years
  Numerous assignments in US and Overseas including Vietnam
  and Germany. Retired as a Colonel in 1981.
  
• Present: President of Van Fleet-Meredith Group
  Legislative consulting in Defense and Environment. 
• www.vanfleet2003.org

1. What are your projections regarding the increased value of real estate assessments, and what use would you envision for this increased
revenue?

Capping the real estate assessments at the State level. Pass impending legislation or enact a "Proposition 13" that caps assessments with a small escalation to prevent degradation of services. Absent legislation, then conduct a statewide referendum.

2. Do you foresee a solution to affordable housing? What would it be? (If yes or no, amplify your answer.)

Don't destroy it; Hunting Towers, Hunting Terrace, etc. Support successes like Lynhaven, to construct, renovate, subsidize, preserve and develop home ownership and rental housing opportunities. Help create partnerships with the private sector, foundations, non-profits and all levels of government.

3. How would you fix conditions/overcrowding of our public schools?

Do away with trailers. Build two high schools of about 1,000 students each. Smaller, safer, saner schools are more successful. Audit schools to determine dollars going to the classroom rather than administration. Hire teacher aides, (according to HR 1 requirements) reducing teacher/pupil ratios.

4. Do you have alternative choices/solutions for transit/transportation within the city? What are your priorities?

New construction to be mixed use and mass transit accessible. Transit between metro stations in Eisenhower Valley. One way traffic on Route 1 (Patrick and Henry) in morning and evening. Improve southern cutoff at 301 to get trucks off 1-95 and Wilson Bridge.

5. What is the greatest challenge you see facing City Council and how would you address it?

Alexandria is the ninth densest and 3d worst traffic jam in US, with one million new people coming to Northern Virginia by 2025. Need a short term building moratorium to assess, plan and fix our infrastructure needs.

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