To the Editor:
Now that the vitriolic Democratic mayoral campaign is over and the leader baton is soon to pass to another, it behooves us all to recognize the extraordinary contribution that Bill Euille has made to the City of Alexandria.
As a resident, one cannot help but appreciate the scope and depth of his involvement in every aspect of the life of our city. The single-mother son whose positive development was largely informed by sports, mostly basketball, the adult Euille sponsored a baseball team for underprivileged youth; supported the building of a field near the Lee Center for children with special needs; and advocated that city pools not only serve the competitively well-to-do but also offer swimming lessons to beginners. At the other end of the age-group and socioeconomic spectra, the mayor became a tireless advocate for services for Alexandria’s seniors and acted relentlessly to assure affordable housing so that the city could continue to accommodate all of us.
Over a dozen years with Euille as its leader, Alexandria (on occasion coupled with Arlington) has earned top ranking in countless categories among communities throughout the country: best for vets, top arts destination, best for walking/green spaces, most romantic on the east coast, best downtown, top for private-public partnerships, best for young people, second highest for per-capita giving, outstanding for historic preservation/architectural heritage, and second in the nation on the human development index based on life expectancy, income, and education metrics. No Williamsburg, Alexandria is a place that has managed to both respect its unique past and enable a thriving future. And while it takes an entire community, with its numerous parts and parties, to make a great community, leadership plays an outsized role, and Mayor Euille’s has been peerless.
On a personal note, after decades working in the international arena, I retired to seek “repurposing” at the local level. In that process, Euille proved ubiquitous, keynoting seemingly every meeting I attended in the city. Eventually choosing to serve in officer positions on the boards of Alexandria’s Sister Cities Committee and the YMCA, I directly experienced the mayor’s tremendous support for everything both groups undertook. Even more personally, when my husband passed away, Euille came to his memorial service and followed up with a letter lauding his service as coach to a decade of Alexandria’s young athletes. And every time we meet, the mayor asks how my two sons are doing, by name and with knowledge of their where- and what-abouts. This white, senior, female, middle-class Republican will never forget his many kindnesses.
Living in Alexandria — with its history, art and architecture, nature, services, diversity — is a great pleasure and privilege. Today, for that and in good measure, we can all thank Mayor Bill Euille.
Judy Navarro
Alexandria