A Contrast in the Campaign for Alexandria Council

Democrat Justin Wilson Has a Record as an Activist; Republican Bill Cleveland Served 15 Years in Office

The Alexandria City Council special election is a classic battle of old vs. new, experience against youth, and competing visions for the future of the city that both candidates want to serve.

The election to fill the seat left open when former vice mayor Andrew H. Macdonald resigned in May pits Democrat Justin Wilson, 28 and a civic activist, against Republican former vice mayor William C. "Bill" Cleveland, 58. The citywide ballot is set for July 17.

Republicans are portraying Wilson as inexperienced and too close to Mayor William D. Euille (D) to be an independent voice on the council. "Bill is deeply rooted in the community, he has a lot of popular support, and he's lived here for over 30 years," said Chris Marston, chairman of the Alexandria Republican City Committee. "Justin is 28, so I'm sure he hasn't lived here 30 years."

Democrats paint Cleveland, who left the council in 2003 to run for mayor, as out of touch and lacking substantive knowledge of city issues. They say that Wilson, a transportation expert who has served on city and state boards and commissions, has experience that is more relevant because it is recent.

"In terms of experience and ideas, believe it or not, it's the younger man who has it all over the older candidate," said Susan B. Kellom, head of the Alexandria Democratic Committee.

"Justin has given so much of himself to this city. The whole time Mr. Cleveland was on the council, he didn't offer alternatives. It was always 'no, no, no,' " Kellom said.

Political analysts generally give the edge to Wilson, if only because of the traditional Democratic advantage in the left-leaning city. The mayor and all five council members are Democrats, and Democrats have controlled the seven-member council, including the mayor's seat, since 2003. But they caution that anything can happen in a single-seat special election for which turnout is expected to be low.

"This race is wide open," said former Alexandria mayor Kerry J. Donley (D), who has endorsed Wilson. "It's the middle of the summer. People are on vacation, they aren't focused on this election. It's going to boil down to who can identify their voters, motivate them and turn them out."

Donley said the race "is a good matchup. You've got a guy in Bill Cleveland who has some experience on the council, has won some council races and lost other races. Then you have another candidate who is bright, involved in the community and has new ideas."

Macdonald, who was elected to the council in 2003 and reelected in 2006, was an advocate for the environment and historic preservation who often clashed with fellow council members and was known as something of an iconoclast. He cited personal reasons when he resigned this spring.

Wilson won a Democratic caucus last month to nominate a candidate for Macdonald's seat, defeating four other candidates: former prosecutor James K. Lay; Boyd Walker, Macdonald's former campaign manager; lawyer Mark Feldheim; and civic activist Lenny Harris.

Cleveland won the Republican nomination, defeating Pat Troy and Lisa Miller.