|
Vice Mayor Bill Cleveland
(R) - Endorsement Statement
 Alexandria
is very fortunate to have three mayoral candidates who have demonstrated
commitment, dedication and public service to our community. ASG
appreciates that all three candidates agreed to undergo our detailed
and exhaustive process. The citizens of Alexandria are better informed
as a result of this process.
ASG is endorsing one candidate for mayor who best meets the criteria
ASG has publicly identified and explained. The basis for the endorsement
is the responses of the candidates to the ASG Candidates' Questionnaire,
the candidates' public records and interviews conducted with each
candidate. As explained below, ASG finds that Vice Mayor Bill Cleveland
is clearly the best mayoral candidate under the criteria and is
pleased to endorse him for mayor in the May 2003 election.
Of the three candidates, Vice Mayor Cleveland is the only one
with a strong evaluation in all three criteria. His long record
of public service substantiates his questionnaire responses and
shows strong support for ASG's vision and organizational goals.
Cleveland presented a well-thought out plan to challenge government
to make it better and more responsive to the concerns of Alexandria's
citizens and taxpayers.
Townsend Van Fleet also showed a commitment to ASG's vision, although
we are concerned with his overly forceful approach to issues and
the potential divisiveness of his strongly held views. In addition,
Van Fleet has the fewest years of public service in Alexandria.
Both Vice Mayor Cleveland and Councilman Euille are well prepared
to become mayor of Alexandria. However, while Euille shares some
of our goals, he is also committed to continue the policies of the
last ten years that ASG believes to be in need of reexamination.
He did not demonstrate a willingness to distinguish himself from
his predecessors on the thornier issues facing Alexandria, such
as the respective roles of government officials, the Board of Architectural
Review and the loss of open space.
Vice Mayor Cleveland has earned the strong and enthusiastic endorsement
of ASG as Alexandria¹s next mayor.
|
