See below for a campaign announcement from the Jonathan Huskey for Alexandria City Council campaign, emphasizing that he’s a “progressive Democrat opposed to [the] Potomac Yard arena.” Per VPAP, Huskey joins nine other Democratic candidates, including four incumbents (John Chapman, Kirk McPike, Canek Aguirre and Sarah Begley) running for reelections, as well as five non-incumbents (James Lewis, Charlotte Achelois Scherer, Abdel Elnoubi, Jacinta Elleena Greene and Jesse O’Connell), running for six at-large City Council seats. If all the incumbents were to win, that would mean that just two slots would remain, with six (so far) candidates vying for them. Should be interesting!
Progressive Democrat opposed to Potomac Yard Arena enters Alexandria City Council race
As Arena Deal Hangs By a Thread in Richmond, Del Ray resident Jonathan Huskey becomes the 11th Democrat in Council race; declares he will “fight for Alexandria’s future by doing what’s right.”
(Alexandria, VA) Jonathan Huskey filed to run for Alexandria City Council on Monday and will vie for 1 of 6 City Council seats in the Democratic Primary on June 18, 2024. Huskey was motivated to run after months of civic engagement on the Potomac Yard arena, a plan he believes was a monumental mistake from the start.
Huskey is a first-time candidate, but as the Communications Director at the State Revenue Alliance, a national group that supports state-based community, labor and policy organizations that advocate for progressive tax policy and additional revenue for community needs, he’s no stranger to politics or policy debates. Huskey spent a decade working alongside the members of the Service Employees International Union as tens of thousands of people formed their union and won better pay and benefits. Jonathan also worked for several years, and in a number of capacities, to elect Democratic candidates in Virginia and across the country.
“I’m a positive person who’s looking for the good in any idea, but when a billionaire asks for billions of dollars to build a mini-city, we all should be very skeptical. Sports arenas are bad public investments and this one would be no different. That’s why I was shocked when Alexandria’s elected Democratic leaders — people I have supported and voted for —rushed into a deal with Ted Leonsis and Glenn Youngkin that residents never asked for and we don’t need. Despite Council’s good intentions, the Potomac Yard project shows the need for new voices at City Hall. We should never threaten Alexandria’s fiscal health and quality of life with a secret handshake agreement. I’m running for City Council to show that we can stand up for Alexandrians by fighting for what’s right.”
From now until June, Huskey will be meeting voters in each precinct to discuss neighborhood concerns and ideas for the next City Council. He expects to raise the resources to communicate with voters about his vision of how together, we can fund future priorities important to residents, small businesses and workers.
“I’m a firm believer that you can’t just be against something, you need to be part of finding a solution,” Huskey said. “In this case, the problem is revenue – Alexandria needs more of it to fund the things we need for our community, our safety and our kids’ future. When budgets are tight, we have to stop thinking there’s nothing our City Council can do except raise property taxes or cut services. As Council Member, I’ll be a champion for all of Alexandria to find the revenue the city needs and work collaboratively with Democrats across the Commonwealth to secure it.”
Huskey and his wife, Mandy have lived in Virginia for over two decades and moved to Alexandria in 2012 to raise their family.
Find more information about the candidate, the campaign, the Potomac Yard arena and how to donate or get involved at huskeyforcouncil.com
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