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Alison Virginia O'Connell, one of three candidates in the April 21 Alexandria City Council special election, will join Alexandria Brief publisher Ryan Belmore for a live 30-minute interview Wednesday, March 4, at 3 p.m.
The interview will stream live on alexandriabrief.com, the Alexandria Brief YouTube page, and the Alexandria Brief Facebook page. It will also be available afterward as a video recording, podcast, and transcript.
Who is Alison Virginia O'Connell?
O'Connell is an Alexandria resident who filed petition pages Thursday — the day before the filing deadline — to run as an independent in the April 21 special election. Her candidacy was confirmed Friday afternoon when General Registrar Angie Maniglia Turner confirmed she had submitted enough valid petition signatures.
A regular presence at Alexandria City Council public hearings, O'Connell has spoken repeatedly about the city's investments in defense contractors, according to past Alexandria Brief coverage. She has served on the city's Commission on Persons with Disabilities and the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee, according to her campaign website.
Her platform, available at avo4alx.com, centers on what she describes as "Trump-proofing Alexandria," ethical investment, abolishing ICE, and affordable housing. As the daughter of two federal workers, O'Connell has said she learned early the values of public service. She describes herself as a disabled resident who has lived on a limited income and says she understands firsthand the difficulty of finding affordable housing in Alexandria.
O'Connell joins Democratic nominee Sandy Marks and independent Frank Fannon on the April 21 ballot. The Alexandria Republican City Committee, which named a nominee Monday before that candidate withdrew Thursday citing financial disclosure requirements, announced it would not field a replacement.
Early voting begins Friday, March 6, at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, 132 North Royal Street. Election Day is April 21.
How to watch
The interview will stream live on Wednesday, March 4 at 3 p.m. below, on alexandriabrief.com, the Alexandria Brief YouTube page, and the Alexandria Brief Facebook page. It will also be available afterward as a video recording, podcast, and transcript.
The Alexandria Brief has invited all three candidates in the April 21 special election to sit down for a live interview ahead of early voting. An interview with Frank Fannon is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at noon. An interview with Sandy Marks will be announced when scheduled.
