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The Republican nominee for the April 21 Alexandria City Council special election has withdrawn from the race, citing the financial disclosure requirements candidates are required to file with the city.
Gerry Chandler, whom the Alexandria Republican City Committee named as its nominee Monday, texted the Alexandria Brief at 1:53 p.m. Thursday to say: "I have withdrawn because of the onerous financial disclosures required."
The filing deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, February 27.
Candidates for the April 21 special election are required to file two forms with the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration and Elections: a Certificate of Candidate Qualification and a Statement of Economic Interests. The Statement of Economic Interests is a 25-page form requiring candidates to disclose personal debts, securities holdings, business interests, rental property, real estate transactions, income sources, and payments received for talks, meetings, and other appearances. Knowingly making false statements on either form is a Class 5 felony under Virginia law.
As of Thursday afternoon, the ARCC website still listed Chandler as the party's candidate for the race and made no mention of his withdrawal. ARCC Chairman Chris Howell did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday or Thursday.
The Alexandria Brief first reported Wednesday that Chandler was in Tampa, Florida, and had told this publication he did not know a filing deadline existed until the night before the call — the day after the ARCC publicly announced his nomination. In that interview, Chandler said he "might investigate tomorrow" regarding his options. His Thursday text suggests the investigation led him to the disclosure requirements.
With Chandler's withdrawal, the April 21 race is now a two-person contest between Democrat Sandy Marks and independent Frank Fannon. The ARCC has no candidate on the ballot. The Alexandria Brief has asked ARCC Chairman Chris Howell whether the committee intends to name a replacement nominee before the filing deadline on Friday at 5 p.m.
The ARCC's only public communication on Thursday was a notice calling a general meeting for Wednesday, March 4 — a week after the filing deadline. The agenda lists "Updates on Campaigns and Political Issues" but makes no mention of the city council race or Chandler's candidacy.
Sandy Marks won the Alexandria Democratic firehouse primary on February 21 with 1,573 votes (39.6%) in a five-candidate field. Frank Fannon who served on city council from 2009 to 2012 as a Republican and is now running without party affiliation.
This story may be updated. The Alexandria Brief's original reporting on Chandler's filing deadline situation is available here.
Ryan Belmore
Ryan Belmore
