Democratic candidates for Mayor of Alexandria are readying for a debate tonight. Primary election is June 9 @WTOP pic.twitter.com/pXcYbLUGeG
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) June 2, 2015It's a nearly full auditorium for this debate here at George Washington Middle School @WTOP pic.twitter.com/rpx59zaHOv
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) June 2, 2015
WASHINGTON — The three candidates for Mayor of Alexandria are sharing their priorities ahead of next week’s Democratic primary.
Asked to name the No. 1 challenge she would tackle if elected, Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg says the city is spending more than it’s bringing in.
“We need to tackle that, and grow the commercial tax base,” she says.
Mayor Bill Euille’s top priority is different.
“Housing affordability is a No. 1 issue that I’d like to continue to work on.”
Former Mayor Kerry Donley, like Silberberg, says he’s most focused on the lack of money coming into city coffers.
“We have a fire station that we located out in the West End of the city of Alexandria, and we can’t fully staff it and equip it, because we don’t … have the revenue,” says Donley.
The candidates also were asked what the city should do in the next five years to make the biggest impact on transportation.
Euille says the free King Street trolley service, which was established at his direction, has been a big success.
“I think opportunities to do that in other corridors of the city certainly is something that we need to consider,” he said.
“Transit-oriented development is I think the key to a number of our issues,” says Donley. “Not just transportation but also growing our economy.”
Silberberg says she’s concerned about drivers who don’t live in the city but cut through its neighborhoods at high speeds.
“You can see all the license plates that say D.C. and Maryland. And while they’re entitled to drive through our streets, they’re not entitled to speed,” Silberberg says.
The Democratic primary election is Tuesday, June 9.
