Local PAC 'Securing Alexandria's Future' Unveils Endorsements

Local political action committee Securing Alexandria’s Future has thrown its support behind six of the 14 Democratic candidates for City Council, also naming two “runners-up.”

The PAC, which is co-chaired by former Councilmen Lonnie Rich and David Speck, has selected John Chapman, Sean Holihan, Tim Lovain, Del Pepper, Paul Smedberg and Justin Wilson as “candidates most qualified to serve the city.”

The group said: “We also feel that two candidates, Donna Fossum and Melissa Feld, are worthy of consideration. …Although not endorsed by SAF, both Fossum and Feld… exhibited a commitment to community involvement.”

SAF leaders also include former Police Chief David Baker and current City Councilmen Kerry Donley and Rob Krupicka, both of whom are not seeking re-election. Baker said the PAC has about 40 members and he expects it to grow. SAF plans to release a list of participants in the next couple of weeks, he said.

The group made its endorsements based on answers to a questionnaire it developed for the candidates and carefully combed through the matrix of answers to decide who would garner its support, according to Baker.

"If you look at the candidates we endorse, they are not all in the same place on every issue... but good candidates equal good government," Baker said. "We endorsed individuals who have a broad understanding of issues and understand the importance of sustainability."

Baker said the PAC is still mulling over exactly how SAF will aid its endorsed candidates.

this election season—Democrats for a Better Alexandria and Alexandrians for a Livable City.

Baker said SAF is looking at a number of broad issues in choosing its endorsements and is not as narrowly focused as the other two new local PACs.