In a collaboration between the Alexandria Brief and the Liberally Social Podcast, Tim Laderach sat down for an interview ahead of Saturday’s Democratic firehouse primary.
Why he’s running
Laderach said he’s been “showing up for this community since the very day that we arrived” in 2017 and is running to provide pragmatic leadership.
“I’m in this race not to grow a fan club, but to actually get stuff done,” he said. “I’ve been in the trenches doing work for years, advocating for change, standing up for zoning for housing, leading community discussions, reaching out to people who have been left out of the conversation.”
He emphasized that Alexandria faces an “income problem” that he called the city’s “most existential issue” — and said solving it would unlock the ability to address other priorities.
Four policy priorities
Laderach outlined four main issues:
Fiscal responsibility through growth: “So many times we’ll hear progressive promises on what things we would like to accomplish in the city, but we simply can’t do that with our current budget state,” he said. He argued that relying on more money from Richmond “is not a long-term winning strategy” and called for expanding the commercial tax base.
Affordability: Laderach said housing needs to be connected to transit, and that the city needs more affordable childcare options and “meaningful environmental action.” He framed these as “essential infrastructure and not just nice to haves.”
Connectedness: As chair of the Economic Opportunities Commission, Laderach said he’s seen city departments and nonprofits “operate in silos.” He said he wants to be “the connective glue” that breaks down those barriers.
Equity through engagement: Laderach said the city needs to be “a safe harbor for everyone, regardless of zip code, national origin, immigration status.”
What separates him
Asked what distinguishes him from the other four Democratic candidates, Laderach pointed to his depth of experience on city issues.
“I didn’t just show up to run. I had been planning and preparing for this moment for a long time,” he said. He noted that his website was the first to have detailed policy positions and that he publishes a Substack called “The Deep Dive” to explain his thinking.
“I actually have results to show in the receipts,” he said.
Leadership style
Laderach described his leadership style as collaborative, drawing from his experience as a naval officer.
“I can’t just be a top-down leader and say this is my idea, this is where I think we need to go, let’s do it,” he said. “It’s really coming alongside people, understanding where they’re trying to go as individuals and really try to help them get to that point.”
Endorsements
Laderach listed endorsements from School Board member Dr. Donna Kenley, a 30-year Army colonel, and former Vice Mayor Dr. David Speck, an Alexandria Living Legend who was involved in bringing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to the city.
“I’m endorsed by people for very specific reasons,” he said. “They care about the quality of results.”
Why he cares
Asked where his commitment to community service comes from, Laderach pointed to his upbringing in a small town in Ohio where his father was a seventh-grade science teacher who coached multiple sports and knew everyone in town.
“That’s the sense of community that we experienced growing up, and I want to see that here,” he said.
He also cited his grandfather, a World War II veteran who “had long believed that service doesn’t end after you take off the uniform.”
When Laderach and his wife Elissa moved to Alexandria in 2017, he signed them up for a Rebuilding Together Alexandria volunteer event before they had even unpacked. “That’s where we met people who are making the community work,” he said.
Getting to know Tim
In a rapid-fire personal segment, Laderach shared that he has two golden retrievers named Kona and Maui, prefers exploring new places on foot by running, admires Harry Truman as a political figure, and is reading a Truman biography. His favorite Alexandria restaurants include Spice Kraft and Piece Out Del Ray.
He’s never sung karaoke — “I was waiting for a boo or something” — but said his car karaoke go-to is anything from Hamilton, particularly “My Shot.”
Learn more at timforalexandria.com.
Listen to the entire conversation as a podcast above or wherever you get your podcasts, and/or watch the conversation below.
Update - This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Spice Kraft and Piece Out.
