Alexandria Chamber Calls for Debate in Mayor's Race

PHOTOS: Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg, the Democratic nominee in the Alexandria mayor’s race and Mayor Bill Euille, who is running as a write-in candidate in the race.

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The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is weighing in Thursday on the Alexandria mayor’s race, calling for a debate between Democratic nominee, Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg and Mayor Bill Euille, who is running as a write-in candidate after losing the primary in June in a three-way race.

The election is Nov. 3.

Euille is pushing for a debate. Silberberg has said she will not debate a write-in candidate and has said that voters have already heard from her, in debates during the primary.

Clarence Tong, who chairs the Alexandria Democratic Committee, has said earlier that: “We support our vice mayor’s position. She’s our nominee, and she has made her position very clear that she doesn’t plan to engage in debates.”

Here’s what the Chamber has to say, in their statement released Thursday:

As the voice of business in the City of Alexandria, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce believes it is vital for our members, as well as the community at large, to hear from all candidates seeking to lead Alexandria for the next three years and beyond.

In specific regard to the race for Mayor, we note that the Democratic nominee, Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg, will be the lone Mayoral candidate on the printed ballot in November. She is being challenged via a write-in campaign by current Mayor Bill Euille after he was unsuccessful in the Democratic primary.

We are not aware of any other candidates, whether they are party nominees or declared write-in candidates, that are seeking to serve as Alexandria’s mayor. The Chamber believes that a debate between the Democratic nominee, Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg, and declared write-in candidate, Mayor Bill Euille, should occur at the earliest possible opportunity.

The voters of Alexandria are being given a choice in this campaign and are entitled to a debate where they can hear directly from both candidates, side by side, at the same time. Voters deserve to see Vice Mayor Silberberg and Mayor Euille debate each other and independently evaluate each candidate’s ideas, visions for the City, and how they intend to lead.

Given the level of activity by both the Euille and Silberberg campaigns, the Chamber believes the debate over the method of nomination is now over. We are focused squarely on the election in November and the future of Alexandria.

In the Chamber’s view, there are two candidates running for mayor. One is a party nominee; the other a declared write-in. Those candidates owe the business owners of Alexandria a debate to explore their positions on key issues such as budget, land use, small business, taxes and transportation.

To omit such a debate and discussion from an electoral process is a disservice to all voters, especially employers and small businesses.The Chamber stands ready to assist in facilitating such a dialogue and looks forward to the respective campaigns coming to an agreement on the terms for a candidate debate for the office of Mayor of Alexandria.

What do you think? Should Silberberg and Euille debate? What issues are you interested in hearing about?