Responsible Leadership for Alexandria

Addressing Economic Challenges
Paul has the experience to tackle the fiscal challenges facing our City. He has championed initiatives to prioritize spending, encourage economic growth and establish sustainable programs.
Making Government More Effective
Paul will continue to ask tough questions, demand accountability and consider the bottom-line for all programs and initiatives.
Improving Our Quality of Life
Paul will continue to make Alexandria an even better place to live. He has led the fight to close the hazardous Mirant Power Plant, worked to preserve our historic neighborhoods and pushed to ensure our children receive a first-rate education.

Candidate Questionnaires and Surveys

Economic Challenges/Tax and Budget Issues:
Q: What will you do to increase or retain jobs and revenue in our City?
A: Ideally, we should have a more balanced mix of residential and commercial uses. Right now, residential predominates. We need a growing business community to provide a base to better weather economic downturns. I have long championed the development of a coordinated economic development strategy. In particular, we need to focus on small area plans, zoning and permitting to ensure that we can attract and retain businesses. The vast majority of businesses in our city are small ones (with fewer than 20 employees) and I will work to increase their numbers and profitability. I oversee the City’s sponsorship of the Alexandria Marketing Fund, which provides funding for nurturing public/private partnerships between small business and other organizations as a means to promote Alexandria as a destination for tourism, shopping, dining, and doing business.
Q: What are your priorities for spending in these tough times?
A: Essential needs must go to the top of the list for City spending and non-essential items must be deferred or dropped altogether. We must find ways to fund needed operations in health, public safety and education. Capital projects must emphasize essential maintenance. Council must ask hard questions about the budget and follow through on the audits of City departments, which I have championed, and make full use of the efficiencies to be gained from the Managing for Results Initiative (MFRI).
Q: In reducing the budget, which programs you think should be cut or eliminated?
A: It may be easier to say what programs should generally not be cut or eliminated. My view is that core programs and services (health, safety, education) should always be on firm footing. Our City properties and infrastructure should be maintained, refuse should be picked up on schedule and Alexandrians who need information from City Hall should be able to get the right answer in a timely fashion. In this very tough budget year, Council must ask hard questions and be prepared to make hard calls on funding.
Q: Do you support raising the property tax rate?
A: The Council gave guidance to the City Manager that the proposed budget should maintain the average real estate bill at the same level as last year. Because assessments are down, a small rate increase would result in bills that are the same on average as last year. In considering the proposed budget, I will look for ways to bring down the rate or to minimize any increase. I would not support a rate increase that would result in higher tax bills over last year.
Q: What role do you think economic development programs should play?
A: Economic development is the key to our City’s future. Economic development not only results in a vibrant community with jobs, restaurants, shops and entertainment options, it also attracts visitors who spend money here. Economic development brings in revenues that serve to reduce the property tax burden on people who live here. We need a growing business community to provide a base to better weather economic downturns. I have long thought that the City should take a more systematic and considered approach to economic development and we have taken some big steps in that direction with the adoption of an innovative and realistic economic sustainability plan. I serve as co-chair of the newly-established Economic Sustainability Committee that is working to implement the action items in the plan.
Q: Is the City being run efficiently? What changes would you make for greater efficiencies in City government?
A: Alexandria has a tradition of good government. But my view is that there is always room for improvement and that needed changes should be identified and addressed in a systematic way. I have pushed for audits and efficiency studies for all City departments and some of these audits have been completed, resulting in significant savings. I support the City Manager’s institution of a Managing for Results Initiative to focus on achieving efficiencies that are sustainable and that the community values.
Q: In your view, has the City done the right things to respond to BRAC?
A: The City has done everything possible to make the military base relocation process go smoothly. While not our first choice for a site location, we are working with the newly-established BRAC-133 community group and the federal government to address environmental, traffic and architectural concerns. I am confident that the result will be a net positive for our City.
Education:
Q: What current or past involvement have you had with our public schools?
A: I have long been a supporter of the Alexandria City Public Schools. In the 6 years I have been on Council, I have met numerous times with members of the School Board as well as with ACPS staff. I stay current with issues before the schools, especially as they relate to funding and facilities. I was the Board President of Community Partners from 1996 to 2002, where I saw first hand how important our annual back to school drive was to hundreds of children in need of basic school supplies.
Q: Do you support cost sharing between the City and ACPS?
A: Yes I do. We should always look for efficiencies that could result from a cost sharing arrangement. When I was on BFAAC, we studied the possibility of combining our employees for insurance purposes in order to save money. In the first year alone, we saved nearly a million dollars in our combined insurance premiums. I am supportive of the arrangement worked out between the City and ACPS on upkeep of the grounds on public property. I support studying other cost sharing arrangements with respect to IT and transportation to see if those may be beneficial as well.
Growth, Density and Traffic:
Q: What is the current City policy regarding growth and development? Would you change that policy?
A: Past City policy has been a mixed bag and has met with mixed results. I am pleased that our development policy is now focused and goal oriented. The City held an Economic Sustainability Summit in 2006 and formed a citizens’ Economic Sustainability Work Group to study a wide range of development issues. The Work Group produced more than 100 recommendations aimed at economically sustaining our City over the long term. We are now in the process of implementing the recommendations, which I support. The recommendations include: expanding commercial development around Metro stations, enhancing waterfront development to accommodate visitors from the National Harbor, improving the marketability of Landmark Mall, and minimizing effects of the government regulatory environment on the business climate.
Q: Do you favor more commercial development?
A: Yes, particularly around Metro stations. I agree with the findings of the Economic Sustainability Work Group that we should aim for transit-oriented development around each Metro station consisting of mixed uses—offices, commercial and residential. Of course, any new development should be compatible with existing residential and commercial neighborhoods and planned with involvement of interested citizens and stakeholders.
Q: Traffic, especially by commuters passing through, continues to be a major concern. What would you do to alleviate traffic congestion?
A: Alleviating traffic concerns for City residents has been one of my priorities since I was first elected to Council. I championed traffic calming measures that have made neighborhoods safer and programs to improve crosswalks, sidewalks and trails to make the City more pedestrian and bike-friendly. I generally believe that transportation and traffic solutions require a regional approach. Alexandria must work with neighboring jurisdictions for more public transit options.
Q: What is your view on the redevelopment of Potomac Yards?
A: The redevelopment of this large parcel is a promising prospect for our City. It can provide an attractive and lively mixed use development, along with the possibility of a new Metro station that can give a big boost to that part of town and enhance our taxbase.
Q: What is your view on the redevelopment of Landmark?
A: The Landmark area is a prime parcel and I would like to get development underway there. There have been a number of snags and now the economic situation is further complicating and delaying progress. We will look for ways to get things moving again. I envision a lively mix of commercial and residential properties with many amenities---something like Shirlington in Arlington.
Environmental Issues:

Q: Will you please explain how the ethanol transloading facility came to be located where it is and what you intend to do about it?
A: This was a very unfortunate set of circumstances that resulted in the facility becoming operational. I was very disappointed in the way the process was handled by City staff, without input by Council, and asked for a complete review of the situation. We find that, at least for the time being, we must deal with having this facility in our midst. Its operations must be closely monitored and we will try to find ways to alleviate concerns of the community.
Q: Will you please explain your vote on the permit for Virginia Paving?
A: I supported Council action that would give the City the ability, dthrough the permitting process, to regulate this operation and ultimately to sunset this use of the property. As Eisenhower West and Van Dorn Street area redevelop, we must closely monitor plant operations and enforce all conditions of the permit.
Q: What are your environmental priorities?
A: I strongly support the City’s efforts to become an Eco-City, including the adoption of a forward-looking, innovative environmental charter and action plan. We have made significant accomplishments and have been recognized for our efforts to “go green” as fast as we can. As examples, we have enhanced recycling and have built green public buildings. We have laid the foundation for environmental sustainability for decades to come.
Q: Are you satisfied with the Mirant settlement?
A: Generally, yes. It was a good result with national significance for localities trying to control pollution sources. Mirant will spend $34 million for environmental improvements and this should result in cleaner air for Alexandria. We will, however, need to keep a very close eye on the operations of this plant. The ultimate goal must be to close it.
Q: What is your vision for the waterfront?
A: The waterfront is one of our City’s greatest assets. With careful and creative development, it can be a jewel of our region—open, accessible and vibrant. I support the planning process that is underway to determine the Waterfront Plan, which will cover the area from Jones Point to Daingerfield Island. We will be working with internationally recognized planning consultants who have their offices right here in Alexandria. The waterfront belongs to all Alexandrians so we will endeavor to maximize public involvement. The planning process will not be complete until sometime next year but I am very excited and optimistic about the prospect.
Other Concerns:
Q: Do you support adding to our stock of affordable housing? How?
A: I have supported a range of actions to maintain and grow the City’s stock of affordable housing. We have property tax relief programs to help seniors, disabled and lower-income homeowners stay in their homes. We have programs to encourage developers to participate in public/private partnerships to refurbish potential and existing affordable housing units. The City has a commitment to find and acquire suitable properties, but despite good efforts, it has proved difficult. But we must keep trying. At the same time, Alexandria cannot address the need for affordable housing on its own. It is a problem in our region. We should look for ways to cooperate on a regional basis to increase affordable housing in northern Virginia.