DO YOU KNOW…
The Segregationist Roots of Alexandria’s At-Large Election System?
“A large part of the reason Alexandria moved to an at-large system in 1950 was to intentionally limit minority voices. The move, after nearly 150 years of ward representation, was part of widespread resistance to school desegregation to ensure fewer voices from minority neighborhoods.” - Alexandria Living Magazine, April 20, 2021
✔ Now is the time to restore Alexandria City Council District/Ward elections!
Alexandria’s City Council Has Eliminated Vestiges of Racism and Segregation…except its own At-Large Election System?
In 2020, the City removed a 131-year old Confederate soldier statue at the intersection of Washington & Prince Streets. In 2021, T.C. Williams High School, named after ardent segregationist Thomas Chambliss Williams, was renamed Alexandria City High School. In 2023, the City’s “Zoning For All” legislation upzoned all single family homes in the name of reversing racist zoning laws. In 2023, the City Council approved the renaming of 23 streets named in honor of Confederates during the 1950s. But, during a Town Hall Meeting on September 24, 2023 each City Council member explicitly stated their preference for At-Large seats instead of Wards-based seats on the City Council.
✔ Now is the time to move on from Alexandria City Council At-large elections!
Alexandria’s At-Large Elections are Out-of-Step with Election Norms?
Individual election districts are the norm nearly everywhere! The U.S. House of Representatives is based on election districts. The Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate are elected by districts. The Metropolitan Council of Government membership is elected by-district. The Alexandria School Board is elected by district. But, the Alexandria City Council are elected…At-Large…out-of-step with election norms.
✔ Now is the time to normalize direct representative democracy in the City of Alexandria!
At-Large Elections have been Declared Illegal Elsewhere?
May 31, 2021: “...the At-Large system of elections for the Virginia Beach City Council…is in contravention of Section 2 of the [1965] Voting Rights Act…it is hereby DECLARED that Virginia Beach's At-Large method of election is illegal.” - U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Norfolk Division; Holloway v. City of Virginia Beach
✔ Now is the time to proactively restore Alexandria City Council District/Ward Elections!
Which single City Council member is Accountable… to YOU?
No ONE represents YOU or YOUR COMMUNITY or neighborhood. The CACC believes that an At-Large City Council means that if everyone is responsible, then no one is responsible. City Council is accountable to no one.
✔ NOW IS THE TIME TO DEMAND THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF DISTRICT/WARD ELECTIONS!
JOIN US! Communities for Accountable City Council (CACC) is a non-partisan grassroots organization of Alexandria, Virginia, residents who fundamentally believe in City of Alexandria government accountability. The CACC does not seek to endorse any Alexandria City Council or Mayoral candidate.