Mayor Euille: 'It Will Be Nice to Catch My Breath' After Years in Public Office

Under Virginia law, elected office holders in the Commonwealth choose whether they want a primary or a caucus (aka “firehouse primary”) when election season rolls around. Earlier this year, Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille chose to go with a primary. He had run unopposed by fellow Democrats the past four elections.

If Euille had gone with a party-run caucus, aka “firehouse primary,” some say it might have attracted only the party faithful.

Euille said Thursday that when he decided to go with a primary, he had “heard rumors” that former Mayor Kerry Donley might run again; he said he had “no inkling” that political newcomer, Vice-Mayor Allison Silberberg, was considering a run.

In a bit of Monday morning quarterbacking, Patch talked to the Mayor about the stunning upset in Tuesday’s primary that saw Silberberg, 52, upend Euille’s plans for a fifth term in office.

Some — including Mayor Euille — are convinced that Silberberg was the recipient of votes from Alexandria Republicans who crossed party lines to cast their votes Tuesday. As an open primary state, any qualified voter can vote in either party’s primary election.

Some of Alexandria’s Republican voters were reportedly behind Silberberg for her go-slow approach on development in the City. Euille said that there is plenty of development in the pipeline yet to be dealt with including Landmark Mall and Potomac Yard and in the West Eisenhower and North Old Town areas.

The swell of possible Republican voters coupled with the fact that the election was held in June when most people aren’t used to voting, was likely what caused him to lose the race, Euille said.

“The campaign signs become like flowers and a lot of people just don’t become engaged,” he said. “I was in my campaign office making calls Tuesday afternoon and people were saying ’We’ll vote for you on June 9.’”

Euille said he had to remind people that Tuesday was June 9.

And if Kerry Donley had chosen not to run? “We wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Euille said matter-of-factly.

Euille congratulated Silberberg on her win with an email he sent at 6 a.m. Wednesday, and again later that morning, face to face, when they participated in ceremonies welcoming French tall ship L’Hermione to Alexandria.

As for rumors of a write-in campaign for Euille, in the general election in November? Euille said he’s not behind any such write-in movement and has no plans to do so. But he said he would listen if a group of citizens contacted him and wanted to discuss it with him.

“If there’s an effort where people can convince me, I’d certainly be willing to talk,” he said. After all, it was that sort of effort that first propelled him into public office, he said, years ago.

After Silberberg formally takes the reins, possibly on Jan. 2, Euille, 64, said he’ll continue to be engaged in civic life in Alexandria, serving on a dozen or so boards.

“It will be nice to catch my breath.”

PHOTO of Mayor Bill Euille from his campaign Web site