Cesar is a 26-year-old middle school teacher, Army veteran, immigrant, soccer coach, and community advocate. He wants everyone to sit at his circle-shaped table, and brings his lived experiences as an undocumented immigrant to his campaign.

Fun facts - His cats need child-locks! And he has over 10,000 followers on Tik Tok (this is not a typo!).

His policy corners:

1. ACPS and School Board partnership - issues, budget

2. Affordability 

3. Transparency - everyone should be involved, regardless of whether you care or not

4. Accountability - “Show up and fight for you.” ICE OUT. 

Liberally Social Podcast collaborates with Ryan Belmore of The Alexandria Brief for a special collaboration series of interviews for this Firehouse City Council Primary!

Vote in the Democratic Party volunteer-run firehouse primary on Saturday, February 21st from 8:30am-7pm at Cora Kelly Rec Center + Beatley Central Library OR Online if you register in advance by Friday Feb 20th at 5pm! Visit alexdems.org for more information.

Want to watch this as a video? https://www.alexandriabrief.com/podcast 

Want to check out Cesar’s campaign? https://149800.campaignpartner.net/ or https://www.madisontapia4alx.com/ 

PS - We may have forgotten to ask Cesar if he’s ever written his name in the snow before, but he answered the bathroom question! Dolce Gelati, right next to City Hall. 

Charles is a West End-resident and progressive from the Bronx who founded Safe Space NOVA for LGBTQ+ youth, who chaired the Alexandria AIDS/HIV Commission, and has an MBA focused on Human Capital.  

Fun fact - Charles’ favorite mode of transportation is Metro! 

Sad fact - his dog passed away a little over a year ago, who was a star of the Scottish Walk Parade.

His policy corners:

• Affordability - deeply affordable housing supply

• Workforce pathways. Trade schools 

• Sustainable infrastructure amidst climate change, including snowcrete removal 

• Transportation & Congestion. “Get out of your car!” 

Liberally Social Podcast collaborates with Ryan Belmore of The Alexandria Brief for a special collaboration series of interviews for this Firehouse City Council Primary!

Vote in the Democratic Party volunteer-run firehouse primary on Saturday, February 21st from 8:30am-7pm at Cora Kelly Rec Center + Beatley Central Library OR Online if you register in advance by Friday Feb 20th at 5pm! Visit alexdems.org for more information.

Want to watch this as a video? https://www.alexandriabrief.com/podcast 

Want to check out Charles’ campaign? https://www.sumpterforvirginia.com/

Tim is a humble Navy Reservist, attorney, and pharmacist keen to serve his community (he’s already president of the Del Ray Citizens Association and chair of the Alx Economic Opportunities Commission) and full of hope for a systems change approach to Alexandria’s future. 

Fun facts - his dogs are named after hawaiian islands (Maui and Kona), and his substack is named “deep dive” like wholesome a Navy pun. 

His policy corners:

1. Fiscal responsibility through growth

2. Affordability - housing, childcare, environmental action, transit

3. Connectedness - he wants to be the “glue”

4. Equity through engagement

Liberally Social Podcast collaborates with Ryan Belmore of The Alexandria Brief for a special collaboration series of interviews for this Firehouse City Council Primary!

Vote in the Democratic Party volunteer-run firehouse primary on Saturday, February 21st from 8:30am-7pm at Cora Kelly Rec Center + Beatley Central Library OR Online if you register in advance by Friday Feb 20th at 5pm! Visit alexdems.org for more information.

Want to watch this as a video? https://www.alexandriabrief.com/podcast 

Want to check out Tim’s campaign? https://www.timforalexandria.com/

Sandy Marks is an ACPS mom and democratic communications professional who can finally voice her progressive policy positions now that she has stepped down from her back-to-back terms as Alexandria Democratic Committee Chair! (We really missed the opportunity for a Little Mermaid joke here). 

A sweet factoid - her 13 year old son was the one who first encouraged Sandy to run for this seat! Her cat? Not so sweet.

Her policy corners:

1. Public Education

2. Housing Affordability - both market rate and affordable

3. Equity through Access - and climate justice

4. Defend Democracy - for immigrant neighbors and lgbtq kids 

Liberally Social Podcast collaborates with Ryan Belmore of The Alexandria Brief for a special collaboration series of interviews for this Firehouse City Council Primary!

Vote in the Democratic Party volunteer-run firehouse primary on Saturday, February 21st from 8:30am-7pm at Cora Kelly Rec Center + Beatley Central Library OR Online if you register in advance by Friday Feb 20th at 5pm! Visit alexdems.org for more information.

Want to watch this as a video? https://www.alexandriabrief.com/podcast 

Want to check out Sandy’s campaign? https://www.sandyforthecity.com/ 

Special education librarian and union leader Greg Darrall was a pleasure to have on the pod! Not only because he knows how to groom a dog, but also because Marta finally found herself a candidate who appreciates luxe restaurant bathroom decor! You know we kid—there's plenty of substance, too, on this, our last episode in the HDs Firehouse Primary season of LibSoc!

Vote in the Democratic Party volunteer-run five-day firehouse primary on Tuesday, January 20th from 8:30am-7pm at Charles Houston Rec Center + Beatley Central Library! Visit alexdems.org and scroll down to see a map of the district and make sure you're eligible to vote!

We are not shocked at all to hear former School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera is focused on education in her big run for Delegate in HD5! But pearl-clutches beware: there is a tiiiiiny bit of bra talk in this episode! You can handle it.

This ep's opener is dedicated to the 10 people on planet earth who might find it more accessible than it is unhinged—thank you for validating our commitment to some pretty niche interests!

Vote in the Democratic Party volunteer-run five-day firehouse primary on Tuesday, January 20th from 8:30am-7pm at Charles Houston Rec Center + Beatley Central Library! Visit ⁠alexdems.org⁠ and scroll down to see a map of the district and make sure you're eligible to vote!

Councilman Kirk McPike, first inductee to the LibSoc Third Timer's Club (is there a jacket for this?), is running for Delegate—and by runnin', we mean HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS 'cause we're gettin' through A LOT in this 30mins! And by hats, we mean your ceremonial Punxsutawney top hats, 'cause it feels like Groundhog's Day up in here!

Vote in the Democratic Party volunteer-run five-day firehouse primary on Tuesday, January 20th from 8:30am-7pm at Charles Houston Rec Center + Beatley Central Library! Visit alexdems.org and scroll down to see a map of the district and make sure you're eligible to vote!

Newcomer (to us) and criminal defense attorney Chris Leibig (pronounced LYE-big) makes the case for EVEN MOAR criminal legal reform in Virginia! Hear Chris's take on equity, and the "colossal systemic unfairness" in the system that he's out to fix. Whooooobuddy, this LibSoc jury finds in favor!

Vote in the Democratic Party volunteer-run five-day firehouse primary on Tuesday, January 20th from 8:30am-7pm at Charles Houston Rec Center + Beatley Central Library! Visit alexdems.org and scroll down to see a map of the district and make sure you're eligible to vote!

ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! FIIIIIIRRREEEEHHHOOOOUUUSSEEEE!

We saw your bat signal, and we're swooping in with a Very Special Episode: Firehouse Explainer!

We've got a hot one, here in ALX—a five day firehouse primary to fill a State Senate seat in SD39, since Adam Ebbin's up in smoke...get it? (listen and you will!)

But wait—JUST FIVE DAYS until the primary?! What the?! And why?! How does it work? What percentage of online conspiracy theories are 100% true?! YOU NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING! (Hint: there are polls, but in no relation to firefighters)

It's a good thing we got Sandy, who Knows Things now, AND that we Socializers looove to learn—because there's a lot to know and mannnny hot takes to modulate in our feeds and in our brains!

LISTEN!

(and ƒu©k I¢E)

LUCKY EP #13 MIGHT BE OUR LAST!

Here's your chance to hear from Steven Peterson, former real estate developer and father of SEVEN—and that's before all the furry babies! It's a family affair, as Martha (wife) and Chase (step-son) get in on the action a little, and Sandy tries not to bungle Anh's EQFAAPC—you know, the rapid-fire questions! [If you want One. More. Episode. to complete the ballot, let Amy Jackson know how much you love the pod!]