By Annie Gowen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 1, 2006; B02
In many ways, the city of Alexandria has retained its aura as a sleepy Southern town, and its spring political season usually reflects that: City Council candidate forums are normally decorous, polite affairs.
Not so one recent evening at an Old Town hotel, where more than 100 people -- including dozens of members of a local boat club bused in for the occasion -- got a little rowdy on the campaign's hottest topic: rising real estate tax bills.
When Vice Mayor Redella S. "Del" Pepper (D) made a reference to city money, attendees recounted, those assembled began chanting, "But it's our money!" Residents have seen their tax bills double in the past five years.
The issue has struck such a chord among voters in tomorrow's election that even the lone Democratic newcomer to the race, Timothy B. Lovain, chairman of the city's budget advisory committee, has made fiscal responsibility the theme of his campaign.
"It's a big issue now because people are so concerned about property taxes," said Lovain, trooping door-to-door in his neighborhood one recent brilliant spring afternoon.
Lovain, a transportation lobbyist, joins five sitting members of the City Council on the Democratic slate -- Pepper, Ludwig P. Gaines, Rob Krupicka, Andrew H. Macdonald and Paul Smedberg -- vying for six seats. Mayor William D. Euille (D) is running unopposed.
Republicans hope to capitalize on this discontent to break the Democratic Party's grip on the traditionally blue city.
"We are in the midst of a tax revolt," Republican candidate Townsend A. Van Fleet said at one recent forum.
Van Fleet is a lobbyist who tells audiences that he is a direct descendant of Colonial leader George Mason, whose work was the basis of the Bill of Rights. He is one of the colorful characters on the Republican ticket, which also includes restaurateur Pat Troy, School Board member Kenneth L. Foran, mortgage broker Craig S. Miller and Bernard D. Schulz, an administrator at American University.
At one forum, Tom Burke, a small-business owner who lives in the Fairlington section of Alexandria, said he considered himself a Democrat but would vote Republican this year.
"What's the most important issue? Clearly the tax rate," Burke said. "City spending has gotten out of control, and they don't seem to know how to control it. . . . The Democrats have been in charge, but they can't seem to feel and understand what people are going through with their taxes."
Last week, the council -- in part to salve the feelings of residents such as Burke -- approved a $493 million budget that held the spending increase to just under 5 percent and cut the tax rate by 10 cents, to 81 1/2 cents for each $100 of assessed value. Because of rising home assessments, however, the average property tax bill will increase. The council also deferred or downscaled several big-ticket building projects.
Democrats fear that a low turnout -- only about 20,000 voted three years ago -- could help the opposition. But others say it will take more than just a handful of unhappy taxpayers to sway voters in this bluest of cities; residents voted 71 percent for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) last fall.
On his recent neighborhood canvass, Lovain ended up on the doorstep of one voter who has lived in Alexandria for 32 years.
Lovain began his spiel -- "I've been on the budget and fiscal affairs advisory committee, and I know some things we can do to get more out of government. . . ."
The man immediately interrupted Lovain and told him that the biggest concern he had was property taxes.
"Even if your taxes go up 25 percent, there's no reason why the city budget has to go up, too. They don't seem to understand it," the voter said. But before he closed his door, he added: "I vote against all Republicans. That's my main priority."
