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Meet the candidates!
June 13 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Free
Join fibre space owner, Danielle Romanetti, to meet several candidates running for office in Alexandria this year! Learn more about their support for our small business community and a liveable ALX.
Our primary election is on June 18, 2024, so this is a great time to become familiar with those running for office. Stop by for our regular Stitch in Space night, and meet three candidates running for office. They will be gathered in our park space for a meet and greet to answer questions and hear your concerns.
The candidates at this event:
Alyia Gaskins, Democrat for Mayor
Alyia’s single mom worked two jobs but struggled to make ends meet. She and Alyia’s grandmother put all they had into making sure Alyia had a great education. Equipped with degrees in public health, urban planning, and a professional certificate in municipal finance, Alyia has tackled hunger policy at D.C. Hunger Solutions, advanced health policy at the National League of Cities, and managed an affordable housing investment program at the Center for Community Investment. Currently, as a Senior Program Officer at a national philanthropic organization, she works to end homelessness.
When she moved to Alexandria, Alyia leveraged her education to serve, joining the Transportation Commission, Hunger Free Alexandria, Agenda Alexandria, Women of Color in Community Development, and the Junior League of Northern Virginia, among others. Having her own children only deepened her love for Alexandria—and further motivated her to make it the best possible place for her husband, kids, and neighbors.
John Taylor Chapman, Democrat for City Council
John Taylor Chapman, a dedicated father, devoted husband, and fourth-generation Alexandrian, has woven a rich tapestry of service and advocacy throughout his life. Growing up in the North Old Town and Quaker Hill public housing communities, John developed a profound passion for uplifting the underrepresented and underserved. As the youngest President of the Alexandria Branch of the NAACP, he championed causes close to his heart, advocating tirelessly for affordable housing and public safety.
His commitment to education led him to become a career educator, where he tirelessly pursued opportunities to improve the lives of Alexandria’s residents. Serving on the Alexandria City Public School Board’s Budget Advisory Committee, John ensured that all students had equitable access to resources, prioritizing their success above all else.
Beyond his educational endeavors, John is the proud owner and founder of the Manumission Tour Company, where he passionately shares Alexandria’s rich heritage through curated heritage tours. A staunch advocate for historic preservation, John takes pride in connecting residents and tourists alike with the city’s vibrant past.
In addition to his community involvement, John has held multiple leadership roles, including serving as a fourth-term member of the City Council and on various local and regional boards. His extensive service includes positions on the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, the Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority (ARHA) Task Force, and the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) Board of Directors, among others.
John’s commitment to service has garnered him numerous awards and recognitions, including “Top 10 under 40” from the Virginia Leadership Institute and a Men of Courage Lifetime Achievement Award.
With the birth of his son, John II, in February 2020, John’s dedication to creating a prosperous, safe, and culturally diverse city has only intensified. He envisions a future where his son proudly carries on the Chapman legacy as the fifth generation to call Alexandria home. As John continues to work alongside local businesses to revitalize the economy, his unwavering commitment to building a brighter future for Alexandria remains steadfast.
Jesse O’Connell, Democrat for City Council
Jesse has been a committed civic volunteer in Alexandria for as long as he’s lived here. He’s a past chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee (BFAAC), and has also served on the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Old Town North Small Area Plan Advisory Group, the Braddock Implementation Advisory Group, and was the founding vice president of the Braddock Metro Citizens Coalition. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH Bus), the board of trustees of the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, the board of trustees of Hopkins House, and the Alexandria Little League board of directors.
He is a 2017 graduate of the Political Leaders Program at the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at University of Virginia, as well as an Alexandria 40 Under 40 honoree (but not, uh, recently).
Jesse has spent his entire professional career working on issues of college access and affordability, first at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, then Lumina Foundation, the Center for American Progress, and now the American Council on Education. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Georgetown University, where he was a 5-time All-American and captain of the track and field team. During his track career he competed internationally in the 800m both as a sponsored athlete and as captain of the U20 national team, and was a United States Olympic Trials finalist and NCAA runner-up.
He and his wife, Emily, live in Del Ray with their two elementary school-age kids and an energetic pup. He is the son of a college administrator and a stay-at-home dad, the brother to two incredible sisters, and an uncle to two adorable nieces and an alarming number of nephews. An avid baseball fan, he hopes this is the year that Mike Rizzo finally remembers that baseball teams need relief pitchers. When he’s not reading or enjoying a local beverage, he’s probably sitting on a soccer sideline, coaching little league, or thinking about (but then not) going for a run.