The following letter from Frank Fannon was originally published in the Alexandria Times on April 15, 2026.
By Frank Fannon
I am running for Alexandria City Council because I am deeply concerned about the direction our city is heading and believe it is time to bring experienced, community-focused leadership back to the table.
Frankly, I was not planning to run again. Life is certainly easier outside of public office.
However, in January, as I began to see there might be an opening on the Council, I took a hard look at where Alexandria stands today and realized I couldn’t stay on the sidelines. Our city has, in many ways, lost its way and listens less to residents and taxpayers.
The primary mission of local government is simple: take care of its citizens. That means making decisions that reflect the values, needs and character of Alexandria and its neighborhoods. We have seen examples of top-down policymaking that residents do not support. There was not demand from Alexandrians to permit four-unit apartment buildings in single family neighborhoods or make travel more difficult in our city by reducing road space with more bike lanes. Alexandria is not a one-size-fits-all city, and it should not be governed that way.
Our city is a unique collection of neighborhoods. Each area has its own identity and deserves to be heard and respected. Together, these neighborhoods form the fabric of a great city of over 160,000 residents, which has grown more than 25% since 2000. As your Councilor, I will protect the unique characteristics of all neighborhoods.
City Hall’s Housing 2040 plan suggests the city will grow by 30,000 residents over the next 15 years. Alexandria has less than half of 1% of the land in Greater Washington and 2.5% of the population. Growth is not inherently bad, but unmanaged growth is. Without a clear, thoughtful plan for infrastructure, transportation, schools and community services, we risk overwhelming the systems that make our city livable.
I bring more than 35 years of civic involvement to this effort, along with serving on City Council from 2009 to 2012. I have served as the President of Volunteer Alexandria and Agenda Alexandria and served on the boards of over half a dozen community organizations. I understand the challenges and the opportunities facing our city, and I am ready to provide experienced, steady leadership.
As a fourth-generation Alexandrian, with a family business rooted here for over 140 years, I am personally vested in the success of this community. Like you, I want to ensure that the decisions we make today benefit Alexandria tomorrow.
Regardless of your national politics, we all share a common goal: a strong, vibrant and well-led city. I will be one of six Councilors, but I will work to ensure that every neighborhood is heard, and that thoughtful, balanced decisions will enhance the lives of everyday Alexandrians.
We all call Alexandria home. I am running because I want to help protect it, strengthen it and ensure it continues to thrive for generations to come. I respectfully ask for your vote for a stronger, more unified Alexandria.
The writer is an Independent candidate in the April 21 City Council special election.
Source: Alexandria Times — Letters to the Editor, April 15, 2026