Euilleogy
The Dec. 8 City Council meeting marked the last with Mayor William Euille, Alexandria’s mayor for 17 years and the first African-American to hold the position. At the beginning of the meeting, a choir sang “Amazing Grace” and former Mayor and U.S. Rep. Jim Moran praised Euille’s years of dedication and service. As the City Council began to pay its respects, Wilson commented that the ceremony felt like a funeral, to which Euille responded that he’d already had the pun planned for one of his speeches. Like Moran, members of the council expressed their thanks to Euille and his service to the city.
“When this city started, our people came in chains,” said Councilman John Chapman. “Under your leadership, we’ve seen that a person of color can sit in each and every seat up on the dias. [We’ve seen] that we are truly a diverse city with opportunity.”
Before his departure, Euille listed what he saw as the biggest challenges facing Alexandria. Euille said that the new mayor and council will have to continue to diversify the revenue base and not to shy away from tax increases or decreases where prudent. But the biggest problem, Euille said, will be maintaining Alexandria’s affordability and keeping the city welcoming to all residents.
Council Approves Raise
One area Euille won’t benefit is the new raise planned for the mayor, City Council, and aides. Currently, the mayor and members of City Council make $30,500 and $27,500 for their jobs, listed as part time. The ordinance increases the mayor and council salaries to $50,000 and $45,000. However, Councilman Paul Smedberg said that since the last raise in 2003, the job expectations and amount of meetings attended has risen considerably.
“There’s never a good time to do this, there’s always 10 excuses not to do this,” said Smedberg, “but if we don’t do something now, it will be 2020 or 2019 before something changes.”
The last raise was in 2002. The council unanimously approved the ordinance.
Seyoum Legal Battles End
Following two murder trials in which the jury was unable to reach a verdict, Dawit Seyoum was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of Carolyn Cross. On Sept. 7, 2014, Seyoum followed Cross home and strangled her before returning to his own apartment and attempting suicide. Seyoum confessed to the crime after he was taken to the hospital.
Seyoum will be transferred to the Department of Behavioral Health and housed in a maximum security mental facility outside Petersburg. According to Commonwealth Attorney Bryan Porter, any future release must be precipitated on a court ruling at an annual review that he does not constitute a threat to himself or others and that it would be medically appropriate to release him.
Former Vice Principal Convicted
Former West Potomac High School Vice-Principal Aaron Engley, 42, was convicted on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. On Oct. 18, 2014, Engley took a 17-year-old student to a bar in Alexandria after her homecoming dance and bought her alcohol. In a plea agreement, Engley was sentenced to 12 months in jail with all time suspended on the condition of good behavior and refraining from contact with the victim. Given that it was Engley’s first offense, Commonwealth Attorney Bryan Porter said he believed jail time would have been unlikely, but that it was important to at least get a conviction that will stay on Engley’s record.