Dawn of a New Day?
It's another dreary morning outside, but for many in our neighborhood it's the start of a beautiful, sunshiny day.
The results are in from yesterday's elections: Republican Frank Fannon has handily won a seat on the City Council, breaking up the three-year dominance of Democrats at City Hall.
Also victorious: patent attorney Alicia Hughes, a Republican-leaning candidate required by the Hatch Act to run as an independent. Former Mayor Kerry Donley is back on Council as are Rob Krupicka, Del Pepper and Paul Smedberg. Current incumbents Tim Lovain and Justin Wilson, both of whom were in their first terms, were not reelected. Mayor William D. Euille, who ran unopposed, will also return to power.
So political diversity has been attained at last. This can only be healthy for Alexandria's civic culture.
The Democratic loss of two seats is important. Mr. Fannon noted in the Washington Post this morning that he will not be alone on Council and that's critical. Many of us know from former Vice Mayor Andrew Macdonald's experience that being the single dissenting voice on Council can be difficult and frustrating. The Growler — like many readers a lifelong Democrat — is pleased at the prospect of more balanced discussion and thinking on Council.
Speaking of Vice Mayors, the post is an honorary one usually awarded by the Council itself to the candidate achieving the highest vote. It appears that the next Vice Mayor will not be Mr. Krupicka but Mr. Donley, who squeaked by the popular Del Ray politician with just a few additional votes.
One of the most important consequences of this election is that the tripod of Del Ray's dominance on City Council has lost one of its three legs. Much as the Growler personally liked Justin Wilson, three Del Ray representatives on Council were too much. The playing field is now a a little more level and fair, with two Old Town representatives, two Del Ray representatives, and a flock of West Enders.
Will we ever see a Parker-Gray resident on Council? We can only dream ...
Turnout was absurdly low in this election, and the Growler knew things were bad yesterday for the Democrats as increasingly shrill E-mails were being dispatched from party leaders to rally the faithful. Poor voter participation is just one more argument that the elections should be moved to November.
One other happy note: Helen Morris, our local champion for Jefferson-Houston School, glided to victory as one of the School Board representatives from District A. In fact, Ms. Morris won the highest number of votes among the five candidates. The Growler congratulates her on her win and wishes her all success on an elected body that also makes key decisions ultimately affecting our neighborhood.
So what do YOU think?
posted by The Growler @ 6:20 AM
68 comments
68 Comments:
Growler, this blog has finally given PG a voice and sense of empowerment. The despair over feeling perpetually crapped on is lessening and the sense that we can effect change is starting to take hold.
Many of my neighbors were so angry over the City's failure to take real actions to deal with ARHA that they voted for the first time. And the returns show that Fannon and Hughes were the top vote getters in our neighborhood. I hope this delivers a message to council that they can dump on this neighborhood at their peril. And, more importantly, that we will no longer accept empty promises to deal with ARHA over action.
I think the Mayor got spanked.
Other than the new blood on Council, THAT is the headline.
Last I checked online, of the 14,000 or so total voters who showed up, he got about 10,000 votes.
OUCH!
I am a lifelong democrat but voted Krupika, Smedberg, Ceffarati, Hughes, Williamson and Fannon. One party rule is never good. Even if it is your own party. Balance is preferred.
Well-done Growler. The no-vote plan really worked. This is an awesome blog. This is only the beginning. Let's keep and get the word out. I wonder how many write-ins Zarlenga got?
"the Growler knew things were bad yesterday for the Democrats as increasingly shrill E-mails were being dispatched from party leaders to rally the faithful"
The emails were outrageous. I hope this election marks the end of Ms. Kellom's reign of terror.
And things are looking up for Jefferson Houston!
"And things are looking up for Jefferson Houston!"
Yeah!! And I'm hopeful that Helen can be the link between council and the school board to work on shared issues. All that concentrated public housing has a horrible impact on J-H. Disperse it and help J-H at the same time.
Total voting: 14,380
- Euille votes: 10,073
-----------------------
anti-Euille 4,307
It is not too difficult to see that anti-Euille sentiment played a factor here, especially since 7,031 votes carried the day for Hughes as the sixth councilmember, and the two voted off were previously involved in Euille's campaigns.
At the Durant Center (where most of PG votes I think), 38% of the people did NOT vote for the unopposed Euille.
I can only speak for myself. I didn't vote for him because of his support for ARHA. I also thought his bungling of the sex shop matter was really embarassing, as was the fact that he doesn't take public transit to his WMATA meetings. But those two latter things were just gravy on the ARHA cake. What were everyone else's reasons?
Total voting: 14,380
- Euille votes: 10,073
-----------------------
anti-Euille 4,307
I would love to see what the write in where:
Anybody is better
Anybody else
Anybody
Not Euille
Donald Duck
Hopefully this sent a message. Next step, Jefferson Houston gets redistricted and goes to a year round schedule aka Modified School Calendar.
Total voting: 14,380
- Euille votes: 10,073
-----------------------
anti-Euille 4,307
I would love to see what the write in votes were:
Anybody is better
Anybody else
Anybody
Not Euille
Donald Duck
Hopefully this sent a message. Next step, Jefferson Houston gets redistricted and goes to a year round schedule aka Modified School Calendar.
This shows that people are really getting sick of a lot of things beyond ARHA.
Its sad, because I would have preferred Wilson and Lovain to Pepper and Donley.
But I attended the Democrat election party last night, and rather than accepting that the people sent a message, it was framed as a "turnout" problem.
No one seemed to wonder why two of the 7 were eliminated. Or that change in Democratic ideas was needed.
Instead, Kellom blames turnout.
"Many of my neighbors were so angry over the City's failure to take real actions to deal with ARHA that they voted for the first time."
Amen, I know at least 10 people that plunked because of ARHA alone.
Now that its starting to cost Dems real votes in this City, one has to ask whether they will change their tune.
This is exactly what the Alexandria Times endorsed actually, except they had Wilson and not Donley.
I think even they get that the jog is up. I have noticed more editorial coverage as well of public housing issues, and the fact that the City finally needs to confront it.
The results were a pleasant surprise, especially the school board results.
For only the second time in my life I did not vote straight D, plus I plunked and did not vote for the Mayor. It seems a bit passive aggressive, but I did not know how else to send a message that I am not happy with the current Democratic leadership. So unhappy that I voted for two republicans and one independent.
Having Donley as Vice Mayor seems a step backwards, both for us and for him. I don't know what else to make of it.
Two incumbents on the council were defeated: Justin M. Wilson and Timothy Lovain. "I think we're all in shock," said Patty Donmoyer, who campaigned for Wilson.
Utter arrogance. These people talk only to each other. What a small group.
Get out of la-la land and see what your politics have brought to the real Alexandria.
"The emails were outrageous. I hope this election marks the end of Ms. Kellom's reign of terror."
We can only hope, there are some good folks on the leadership team, hopefully, away from the "party" atmosphere there will be some introspection and maybe a coup.
Is it too early to call vice mayor with only 5 votes between them and absentee's to be counted? or have absentees already been accounted for?
Delicious outcome! Voter turnout overall was appalling low but I hope the Dems nonetheless felt their collective butts kicked. Looking at the results, Durant's turnout placed us the top 38% so the fact that Fannon carried the precinct should signal our unhappiness. In descending order, the Durant outcome was:
1. Fannon
2. Hughes
3. Krupicka
4. Donley
5. Smedberg
6. Lovain
7. Wilson
8. Pepper
Mrs. Pepper has served admirably for many years but she has been especially slow to note the neighborhood's changing demographics. Hopefully she will now move quickly to effect a late-course correction. I know she cares deeply about Alexandria and it is a shame she has been too hide-bound to listen closely to our complaints.
Last but not least we again welcome Mr. Donley! We ask only that you listen with an open mind.
Otherwise let the political games begin!
"Two incumbents on the council were defeated: Justin M. Wilson and Timothy Lovain. "I think we're all in shock," said Patty Donmoyer, who campaigned for Wilson.
Utter arrogance. These people talk only to each other. What a small group."
I was at the Democratic rally last night and I can confirm the arrogance and the sense of shock. They were actually talking about pulling out the brooms in 3 years.
I talked to one party activist who was droning on about how the council is so responsive to quality of life issues. When I told her about the special quality of life issues we have in PG, she said "thats a different case"
Total head in the sand mentality. Otherwise known as complete and total arrogance.
"But those two latter things were just gravy on the ARHA cake. What were everyone else's reasons?
I have a whole group of neighbors that specifically focused on the ARHA issue and the fact that they felt his attitude during the Mayor walks was condescending and demeaning.
Sure he won, but an increasing segment of the population actively doesnt like him as Mayor. He needs to recognize that and govern accordingly.
Delicious outcome! Voter turnout overall was appalling low but I hope the Dems nonetheless felt their collective butts kicked. Looking at the results, Durant's turnout placed us the top 38% so the fact that Fannon carried the precinct should signal our unhappiness. In descending order, the Durant outcome was:
1. Fannon
2. Hughes
3. Krupicka
4. Donley
5. Smedberg
6. Lovain
7. Wilson
8. Pepper
Mrs. Pepper has served admirably for many years but she has been especially slow to note the neighborhood's changing demographics. Hopefully she will now move quickly to effect a late-course correction. I know she cares deeply about Alexandria and it is a shame she has been too hide-bound to listen closely to our complaints.
Last but not least we again welcome Mr. Donley! We ask only that you listen with an open mind.
Otherwise let the political games begin!
Those Durant Center returns sent a clear message; we are sick and tired of the status quo.
Democrats need to start asking themselves; IS IT WORTH IT?
Is blind and unquestioned support to current ideas and policies (ARHA being only one striking example) worth it to now face electoral backlash?
Sure, its 2 people, but the Republicans only ran 3 and this City is 72% Democrat. What if the Republicans could have found a few more viable candidates?
Is the intransigence worth it? The Dems could have my vote for a long time if they focused on PG issues, or even made an effort, but instead they are losing the votes of myself and neighbors, and more importantly, gaining activist enemies to their ideas and causes (many of which I agree with) simply due to stubbornness.
Truly a sad day for Dems in Alexandria.
"When I told her about the special quality of life issues we have in PG, she said "thats a different case"
Wow! And what case would that be? Inquiring minds want to know?
To the person who wrote this:
"When I told her about the special quality of life issues we have in PG, she said 'thats a different case'"
Did she explain why she considers it a different case?
"When I told her about the special quality of life issues we have in PG, she said "thats a different case"
What does that mean, I wonder? That they don't care about our quality of life issues? Maybe that they are too politically risky to address?
"Truly a sad day for Dems in Alexandria."
Or a wake up call for the Democratic "leadership" in Alexandria. In a city where most people identify themselves as Democrats and voted that way in the national elections we sent a message that we need more than a D next to your name to vote for you. We need leaders. Leaders who understand that raising taxes while our property values fall is not the answer. But most of all that the City should not be a landlord. ARHA, as it is, is a pariah and should be done away with. This is not the 1970's Alexandria and we don't want 1970's democrats.
Our neighborhood notwithstanding, I wonder why the rest of Democratic Alexandria voted in two Republicans? I'm guessing it is the ballooning real estate tax bills? And little to show for it but poor schools, increased traffic, a dysfunctional public housing authority, etc. etc.?
Looks like the AP picked up the story:
Republican wins seat on Alexandria City Council
By the Associated Press
May 6, 2009
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Republicans have won a rare victory in Alexandria, capturing a seat on the City Council.
Republican Frank Fannon IV, a banker at SunTrust Mortgage, will be joined on the six-member council by Alicia R. Hughes, a Republican-backed independent. Hughes, a patent examiner, could not seek the party's formal endorsement because she works for the federal government.
Two Democratic incumbents, Justin M. Wilson and Timothy Lovain, were defeated.
Fannon's win is the latest in a series of Republican victories in low-turnout elections in Northern Virginia, where Democrats dominate. Seventy-two percent of Alexandria voters cast ballots for President Obama in November.
"Truly a sad day for Dems in Alexandria."
Never have I considered myself a political analyst, but here goes: The current council seemed to me to be all cut from the same cloth - highly educated, wealthy activists from the more liberal element of the party. It is an NYC term but the only one that comes to mind - limousine liberals.
There was no element of balance from the working or middle classes, and I think they were not in touch with the concerns of the common folk.
We saw this in many areas: they brushed aside our concerns and we ended up labeled as gentrifiers in the Braddock Road plan. We complain about crime at the Spa Court and the next thing we know we are maligned as racists by Councilman Krupicka at a debate. They take high-and-mighty positions but do not have to live with the consequences.
For me Krupicka's "Human Filth" comment was the final straw, and the one that pushed me over my significant concerns about voting for republicans.
I agree that a shake up was needed. We'll see how this new Council works out.
In terms of being a referendum on the current Council and Mayor, what are some specific items that folks want addressed?
ARHA has been mentioned, Braddock Rd. small area plan, real estate taxes- what else? What, specifically?
Curious what's on peoples' minds.
""Hughes crashed the ADC party last night and the first person to come running in the door after her (in a Hughes campaign hat) was Lenny Harris.""
Is that an ADC member trying to get bitter?
I was at the ADC rally last night and Hughes nor Harris were there. I stayed until after the Mayor spoke so unless she showed up late with Leonard, she wasnt there.
Sounds like we are getting disgruntled Dems on the blog trying to spread rumors to make themselves feel better.
As for those sticking up for Justin and Tim, agree that they are two of the better candidates, but again, they would have earned a lot more votes being different.
To me, they paid the price for voting the same way as their cohorts, even when one could sense they didnt always agree with them.
Justin attached himself to Euielles derrier when it came to ARHA, even though everyone who knows Justin knew ARHA needed reform and change.
And for that, he pays. He could have won last night with more of the PG vote. A vote against Miller, a debate on Bland, anything that showed he wasnt just following the party line. His words didnt match his actions though.
Really? How would we have known that? They never once stood up and publicly denounced ARHA or took any concrete action to change the status quo.Then you weren't listening. They repeatedly put their foot down about the ARHA loans and complained about them openly at Council and to residents. They in fact forced the re-opening of the Braddock Road plan to put the neighborhood on the path to de-concentration and redevelopment of the other properties with ARHA kicking and screaming all of the way. This costs the City millions just to get ARHA to do the right thing.
Please post the Kellom "shrill" e-mails.
I need a good laugh.
"Then you weren't listening. They repeatedly put their foot down about the ARHA loans and complained about them openly at Council and to residents."
DID THEY VOTE AGAINST THE BAILOUT OF ARHA?
NO
So how can you say they put their foot down?
If the City is wasting millions dealing with ARHA, why did they sit there and not take any action?
Words are meaningless. Euielle has lots to say on the Mayor walks.
"Fallen for it"
So why the somber mood at the ADC rally last night?
All part of the grand conspiracy.
"Really? How would we have known that? They never once stood up and publicly denounced ARHA or took any concrete action to change the status quo.Then you weren't listening. They repeatedly put their foot down about the ARHA loans and complained about them openly at Council and to residents."
I know all of this. But they voted to approve the Bland plan which dumped over 100 ARHA units back in the neighborhood. Which is not what this neighborhood wants or needs. I didn't vote for anybody who supported the Bland plan. They can talk all they want, but it was their actions this neighborhood watched.
"Hopefully, an African American woman can help us all solve this thorny ARHA problem."
Yes, and Frank Fannon obviously loves this City which is so much a part of him and his family. Let's face it, Alexandria doesn't have a very good history when it comes to race so suspicions are understandable. Let's all try to work together to disperse public housing and make a better life for everyone.
"We complain about crime at the Spa Court and the next thing we know we are maligned as racists by Councilman Krupicka at a debate. They take high-and-mighty positions but do not have to live with the consequences."
Krupicka's remark didn't seem to hurt him at the polls, so what's your problem?
"As far as Fannon and Hughes are concerned at this point I will let their actions this summer speak for them. Growler any chance we can get them to an ICCA meeting before then?"
Hey, friend, any chance you are active in your local civic association? Or are you just sounding off on a blog?
If you really want meaningful change in this neighborhood, it will take a lot more work than bumping off two out of six yes-men on a cold rainy day.
Well, here's something interesting on the docket for the May 12 City Council hearing.
"22. Consideration of a City Bridge Loan to Enable the Redevelopment of Glebe Park to Proceed."
"Krupicka's remark didn't seem to hurt him at the polls, so what's your problem?"
You never want to make political enemies. Why make a comment like that which invites the wrath of people in a neighborhood to actively do everything they can to get you out of office?
You dont think people will remember that and use that against Rob in the future?
You dont think that will end up in some campaign ad or video if Krupicka should choose to run for higher office?
"Well, here's something interesting on the docket for the May 12 City Council hearing.
"22. Consideration of a City Bridge Loan to Enable the Redevelopment of Glebe Park to Proceed."
Wow. Talk about a last hurrah! Sticking it to us (taxpayers) one more time before the door hits you on the way out.
Alexandria has elected a mayor and six council members: Euille, Donley, Fannon, Hughes, Krupicka, Pepper & Smedberg.
These people must produce tangible results in PG or risk being tossed out of office.
We will hold them accountable for what they accomplish.
""22. Consideration of a City Bridge Loan to Enable the Redevelopment of Glebe Park to Proceed.""
I thought all the ARHA apologists said ARHA doesnt need any money and pays everything back.
So they need YET ANOTHER loan (still havent paid back the first one) and Hartmann SPECIFICALLY SAID the City should not give them a second one.
I remember the memo Growler. ARHA wanted an additional 7 million back when the first loan was made, since there was no guarantee they would get tax credits.
So this is becoming the Alexandria version of the financial bailout. ARHA, I guess, is "too big to fail"
When the Glebe Park/Bland project was first proposed, there was discussion about a bridge loan to get developer EYA to started. That was necessary because they are doing Glebe Park first, which has only a handful of market rate units. So pay as you go isn't apparently a good cash flow option for the developer.
Council ultimately decided it was unseemly to loan the money to the developer and said that when the time came it would front the money to ARHA, which would then loan it to the developer.
Heres the text from the MOU
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and
ARHA (Attachment I), and authorize the Mayor to sign the MOU; and
(2) Subject to terms and conditions (Attachment 11), approve a bridge loan to ARHA of up to
$5.6 million to repay the existing HUDIFHA insured mortgage on ARHA's Glebe Park
property, and authorize the City Manager to execute, when the MOU is signed, all
necessary documents in connection with this loan.
BACKGROUND:
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU): Over the years, the City has provided
periodic funding to ARHA for specific properties, generally for acquisition and/or rehabilitation.
Within the past 12 months, $17.9 million in loans have been requested from the City - a $4.7
million loan was approved for Quaker Hill by Council in December 2006, and a loan of $5.6
million in connection with Glebe Park is recommended in this memorandum. A second ARHA requested
Glebe Park City bridge loan of $7.6 million is not being considered by the City.
So either ARHA can't find someone to fund the new 7.6 million loan or they cant win the tax credits which were supposed to fund these. Theres no other reason to consider even more bridge funding.
Either way, you the taxpayer are screwed.
I would just love an ARHA apologist to get on here and claim otherwise.
I'm happy with the results but for one -- I would have preferred Justin over Del Pepper.
"Council ultimately decided it was unseemly to loan the money to the developer and said that when the time came it would front the money to ARHA, which would then loan it to the developer."
Um, where do they propose to get 7.6 million dollars?
The General Debt Service fund? they already pay 250,000 a year in interest on the previous ARHA loan, with the loan not expected to be repaid for 5 years, to be funded by Bland land sales.
This seems like a deeper and deeper financial morass all to preserve a static number of units in a moronic quest to look "compassionate".
"I'm happy with the results but for one -- I would have preferred Justin over Del Pepper."
No kidding. Has anyone ever sat next to Pepper in a community meeting and listened to her malign speaker after speaker under her breath? I have and it made me furious. How does this woman keep getting elected. I would have taken Wilson or Lovain over her any day.
Whoa. I am just catching up on the blog after a few days and am blown away by the fact that the City is EVEN CONSIDERING loaning ARHA still MORE MONEY in this budget environment. Seriously?????
The City's had to cut so many important services and yet they are nonetheless considering throwing more money down the black hole which is ARHA???? And ARHA has SO MUCH property in the City which they could sell to raise that money. Why don't they sell Bland outright? Why don't they sell their HQ land? WTF??????
Growler, please please let us know what's going on here!!!!!!!!!
"What if the Republicans could have found a few more viable candidates?"
In fact, the Growler has been told that staunch Republicans urged party leadership not to run a full slate but to focus on fewer candidates with potential to win.
"Council ultimately decided it was unseemly to loan the money to the developer and said that when the time came it would front the money to ARHA, which would then loan it to the developer".
It sounds like something they would do but - does someone have a link to substantiate this?
The Growler would like to put readers on notice that any unsubstantiated allegations being made in comments will henceforth not be published unless they link to a primary source proving the allegations. Period.
Previous comments without this information have been removed.
Re the issue of the loan to ARHA versus to EYA, the Growler will dig up meeting notes taken at the time and find the references to the discussion.
Re: the ARHA/EYA loan.
Surely, this is a very bad idea. If the City won't force ARHA to sell some of its properties outright to raise needed funds, why don't they let EYA begin on Bland now so they can sell some of those market rate units?
I was at the DPC forum and heard Krupicka mention that people still come to City Halll and refer to people as "human filth". I didn't know the context for this comment, and sounds like people on this blog do, can someone provide the context for his remarks?
As for race relations in Alexandria, while we have work to do no doubt, I think Alexandria is pretty far ahead of lots of communities and quite frankly I was disappointed with the almost unwillingess of our Council members to recognize this.
"22. Consideration of a City Bridge Loan to Enable the Redevelopment of Glebe Park to Proceed."
There is no information on this on the City's website. I checked the Council's docket and all the other items have links to them with the materials, but this one doesn't... What gives????
The city can't force ARHA to just sell properties. HUD has to approve it. ARHA will just let the re-development die. Anybody that thinks otherwise isn't paying attention.
Well a good first step for the city council would be to repeal the ridiculous Resolution 830. I don't know that it would do much, but symbolically its a step in the right direction.
There seems to be a lot of disagreement on what the city can and cannot force ARHA to do, but if we tax payers are being ask to pay for another bailout it seems to me that we can request some changes to ARHA as part of the deal. Let's start with not accepting people from out of state into ARHA housing.
From the October 23, 2007 Council docket item on the Glebe Park loan:
"A second ARHA requested Glebe Park City bridge loan of $7.6 million is not being considered by the City. It is contemplated to be provided by non-City sources."
Sounds like private financing, and the question is whether this has now fallen through.
We'll have to wait and see what the City posts on the Web site as backup for the docket item.
Here's a link to the original ARHA loan discussion memo in 2007:
http://dockets.alexandriava.gov/fy08/102307rm/di18.pdf
The docket materials regarding the ARHA loan are online now.
http://dockets.alexandriava.gov/fy09/051209rm/di22.pdf
Gaines is already throwing Kellom under the bus. Guess that ADC troll who was posting unintelligible gibberish on here was just venting:
The Alexandria Democratic Committee suffered a setback Tuesday when two of its incumbent candidates were ousted by voters on Election Day. Republican Frank Fannon and independent candidate Alicia Hughes each won a place on the City Council. Incumbent Democrats Tim Lovain and Justin Wilson will step down from their seats this summer, when Fannon and Hughes will be installed as the council’s newest members. Some were calling for immediate changes in the party.
"The buck stops with Susan Kellom," said outgoing Councilman Ludwig Gaines, calling for a new party leader. "She took credit for the victories with Democrats won, but she’s also got to take credit for the defeat."
What do I want from the new Council?
Less arrogance and more diversity of ideas.
The Mayor keeps saying there is a mix of ideas but the voters dont agree.
While there might be a case for change in leadership at the Dem committee, Mr. Gaines has missed Council meetings and been a no show at community events for over a year. He also didn't lift a finger during the campaign to help rally any of the Dems. Funny to watch a lot of Dem 'activists' complain when there was very little volunteering done. That complacency/arrogance, coupled with hard work by the Republicans is what turned the tables...
"Krupicka's remark didn't seem to hurt him at the polls, so what's your problem?"
Oh really? I would be surprised if Krupicka was not running for vice mayor. Sure he was reelected but did he achieve his desired goal? The double speak cost him!
"He also didn't lift a finger during the campaign to help rally any of the Dems."
Why should he? Gaines was ceremoniously dumped.
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