To the Editor:
According to 2010 Census Profiles, 52 percent of Alexandria’s population is female and collectively, minorities represent 38 percent (Blacks 22 percent and Hispanics 16 percent). Everyone should be represented at the seat of government. We are women — young and old, Republican and Democrat, married and single, black and white. And we want genuine representation on the City Council just like everyone else. Alicia Hughes, in one person, represents all of us and we want her back on City Council. She is a black woman who happens to be Republican too. We need a balance of perspectives on council that no one party alone can provide. Most importantly, her stellar record of service, open-mindedness and intellect has earned our support.
We don’t have to wonder what she’d do if elected. She led successful efforts to (1) fund research at Fort Ward Park that uncovered the graves of black soldiers; (2) secure funding to feed hot meals to seniors on Sunday through Meals on Wheels; (3) provide needed funds for STEM programs to close the minority achievement gap; and (4) secure additional funds to reduce the pre-K backlog to ensure that all of our children, regardless of family income level, could be sent to kindergarten on Day 1 ready to learn. She has worked to make government transparent and protect neighborhood integrity and stood up for all she represents. She is the only councilmember currently appointed by Governor McDonnell to two boards and is credited with saving local governments millions of dollars. She also serves as vice-chair of a regional board on human services and public safety and was named one of the country’s political rising stars by the Aspen Institute in 2010.
Women in elected office are at a shameful deficit in Alexandria and the Commonwealth. Alexandria has only elected 10 women of whom only two have been minorities in more than 260 years. Neither commonality of race nor party alone supplants the need to feel included, to feel represented by someone who not only is sympathetic to our points of view, but empathetic.
We ask you to make sure that every woman regardless of her party affiliation has at least one person who empathizes with her on our council. With this one vote, you ensure representation of more than half of the population in this city. No other single candidate in this race, based on heritage and political choice, does that. And to boot, she stands tall with the residents on issues affecting the community.
Gwendolyn Hubbard Lewis
Former member, ACPS Board
Gail Ledwig
President, Commonwealth Republican Women’s Club
Rebecca S. Davies
1998 Women's Commission Marguerite Payez Leadership Award Recipient
Kendra Gillespie
Women's Commission 2010 Rising Star Award Recipient
Jane Ring
Alexandria Living Legend and also, an Alexandria Women's Commission Marguerite Payez Award Recipient