August 15, 2002
It's not yet Labor Day, but a number of candidates for local office have filed a Statement of Organization that allows them to raise money.
The form contains the name of the campaign committee, the name of the treasurer, the name of the financial institution in which the campaign account has been opened and contact information for the candidate. The form must be filed before candidates begin raising money to support their campaigns.
Tom Parkins, Alexandria’s registrar of voters, confirmed that, to date, two individuals have filed Statement of Organization forms, which indicate that they are candidates for mayor.
Councilman William D. Euille announced his candidacy for this office last spring. Townsend A. “Van” Van Fleet, the other individual who has filed the Statement of Organization, has made no formal announcement. His form lists the name of the campaign committee as Van Fleet for Alexandria Mayor.
TWO INDIVIDUALS have also filed Statement of Organization forms, indicating that they intend to run for City Council. Pat Troy, owner of Pat Troy’s Irish pub, has formed the Friends of Pat Troy Committee and, likewise, Ludwig Gaines has formed the Friends of Ludwig Gaines for City Council committee.
Both Euille and Gaines list their party affiliation as “Democrat” and Troy and Van Fleet list no party affiliation. The filing deadline for the May 2003, general election is March 4. Independent candidates must file their petitions by this date and party primaries, if necessary, will be held on this date.
Vice Mayor Bill Cleveland has yet to make a formal announcement about his plans. In an interview with the Gazette last spring, Cleveland said that he would make a formal announcement in September. “I want to run for mayor so bad that I can taste it,” he said. “I will let you know after Labor Day.”