Gomez becomes third candidate to enter race for potential Council vacancy
Cornerstone Craftsman founder joins Marks, Laderach in race for McPike seat
Roberto Gomez, executive director of the nonprofit Cornerstone Craftsman, is entering the race for the City Council seat being vacated by Councilman Kirk McPike, according to his campaign Instagram page.
Gomez joins former ADC chair Sandy Marks and Tim Laderach, chair of the Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission and president of the Del Ray Citizens Association, in the race.
His campaign is centered on three pillars: “Affordability. Accountability. Advancement,” according to his Instagram.
Gomez founded Cornerstone Craftsman in 2021, initially self-funding an informal pre-apprentice program during summers and weekends, according to the organization’s website. He started by training five young men; the program has since served 44 youth, with 28 active year-round pre-apprentices and a waitlist of 26.
The program teaches participants construction skills, including drywall, framing, and electrical theory, Gomez said at the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership’s annual impact meeting in October. Graduates earn $27.50 per hour at age 18 through union and non-union apprenticeship programs.
“On average of these kids work and stay in these career paths, they’ll make over $4.6 million throughout their career with no college education,” Gomez said. “That’s pretty powerful.”
He serves on several community boards, including the Alexandria Gang Prevention Task Force, the Alexandria Police Foundation, the Sheriff’s Community Advisory Board, the Alexandria Community Safety Forum, the Alexandria City Public Schools Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee, and the Harbor Freight Leadership Lab, according to the Cornerstone website.
More information is available on his campaign Instagram page.
The Alexandria Brief has reached out to Gomez for comment.
McPike announced his resignation Tuesday night, effective Feb. 9 — one day before the special election in which he faces Republican Mason Butler for House District 5. Early voting begins Saturday.