James Lewis Seeks Election To Alexandria City Council In 2024

West End Alexandria Patch - December 18, 2024

ALEXANDRIA, VA — James Lewis, current chair of Alexandria's Traffic and Parking Board, is trying again for election to Alexandria City Council.

"I'm running for City Council to keep our City moving forward," said Lewis in a statement. "From my time on the Hill to City Boards, I have worked with neighbors to find real solutions that make our community better, safer and fairer. On Council, I will bring my experience listening to neighbors and developing collaborative solutions to address the major challenges facing our City: affordable housing, climate change-driven flooding, infrastructural needs, long-term ecologically sustainability and equal opportunity for all."

Lewis is running as a Democratic candidate. He had previously run for Alexandria City Council in 2021 but was not one of the top six Democratic primary winners, who went on to win the general election.

In 2024, several incumbent City Council members will seek the position of mayor, as current Mayor Justin Wilson will not seek re-election. Councilmember Alyia Gaskins and Vice Mayor Amy Jackson have announced campaigns for mayor.

Lewis currently works as the senior director of policy and advocacy for a professional society representing pharmacists specializing in long-term and senior care. He previously had senior roles with two members of the Congressional Black Caucus — Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) and has worked on national security, nonproliferation, manufacturing, trade and building/construction issues. He has a master's degree from the U.S. Army War College and a Bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary.

Lewis, along with chairing the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board, is involved with the Alexandria Democratic Committee and the LGBTQ+ Democrats of Virginia. He was the 2017-2018 Virginia Young Democrats president and was the 2013-2015 issue advocacy director of the Young Democrats of America.

In Alexandria, Lewis is the current vice president of the West End Business Association, helping to organize the group's inaugural Best of the West event in August. He co-founded the Holmes Run Civic Association and is a former officer of the North Old Town Independent Citizens Association and a condominium association president. He lives in the West End with his husband, Trevor A. Riley of Richmond, and previously lived in North Old Town, South Old Town and Foxchase Apartments.

The primary election in Alexandria is scheduled for June 18, 2024, while the general election will happen on Nov. 5, 2024.