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ALEXANDRIA, Va - Sandy Marks will be sworn in as Alexandria's newest city council member on May 12, the city confirmed Wednesday — nearly three weeks after her victory in Tuesday's special election and two weeks after the Alexandria City Council is scheduled to adopt its FY 2027 budget.
Marks won Tuesday's special election with 53.37% of the vote, defeating independents Frank Fannon and Alison Virginia O'Connell for the seat vacated when Kirk McPike resigned in January to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Ryan Belmore
The timing means Marks will have no role in the city's budget process. The six-member council is scheduled to adopt a $977.3 million budget on April 29 — 13 days before Marks takes office.
But she will be seated in time for two significant council actions in the days that follow. The council has a legislative meeting scheduled for May 12 — the same day as her swearing-in — and a public hearing on May 16 that will include the Braddock Road Improvements appeal.
Ryan Belmore
The Braddock Road project was a flashpoint in the special election campaign. Fannon, who finished second with 29.41% of the vote, made opposition to bike lanes on Braddock Road a central issue in his campaign. Marks, who will now cast a vote on the appeal as one of her first acts on council, did not share Fannon's opposition to the project.
Marks posted her first public reaction Wednesday morning on Instagram, alongside a photo identifying herself as "Councilwoman-elect." "Thank you, Alexandrians — this is the greatest city in the world because YOU are here! I can't wait to get to work for you on Alexandria City Council! Let's go!" she wrote.
Marks will serve through December 31, 2027.
The Alexandria Brief will report on the swearing-in ceremony when additional details are available.
