Filing deadline is Friday for April 21 Alexandria City Council special election
Deadline is Friday at 5 p.m.; independent candidates need 125 voter signatures to appear on the ballot
Candidates who want to appear on the April 21 ballot for the Alexandria City Council special election have until 5 p.m. Friday, February 27, to file paperwork with the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration and Elections, according to a city release issued Monday.
Sandy Marks, who won last Saturday’s Democratic firehouse primary, must file a Certificate of Candidate Qualification and a Statement of Economic Interests. Independent candidates face a heavier lift: in addition to those two forms, they must submit a Declaration of Candidacy and petitions bearing at least 125 signatures of qualified Alexandria voters. There is no filing fee.
Frank Fannon, the former Republican city council member, has said he will run as an independent in April.
The Alexandria Brief has reached out to the Alexandria Republican City Committee to see if they have a candidate.
All candidates must also file a Statement of Organization with the Office of Voter Registration within 10 days of accepting a contribution, spending any funds, or filing candidate paperwork.
Filing forms are available at the Virginia Department of Elections website and at the Alexandria Voter Registration Office, 132 North Royal St., Suite 100. Questions can be directed to voters@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4050.
The April 21 special election will fill the seat vacated when Kirk McPike was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in February.
One question that remains unanswered is when the winner of the April 21 special election would be sworn in — and whether that would occur before the city’s April 29 budget adoption. The Alexandria Brief asked the city about the timeline on Thursday. Mayor Alyia Gaskins responded Thursday, saying she needed to check with the City Attorney and City Clerk before answering. The Alexandria Brief will report on the answer when it is available.