Evening star., 1952-06-08
Alexandria SET
To Vote Tuesday
ForCounciImen
Fourteen Seek Posts;
New Judge Also
To Be Elected
b. Mory Lou Werner

pd1SLI5 ID ukdWu1S' W ClOSG III
Alexandria as voters prepare to go
to the polls Tuesday to select a
full seven-member council, and a
new civil and police court justice.
A slate of seven Democratic
council candidates chosen in the
April party primary is opposed by
four Republicans, who were picked
at party convention.
In traditionally Democratic
Alexandria Democratic nominees
customarily go on to victory
in the general election without too
much difficulty. It can't even be
recalled that a Republican ever
got elected to city council, and
until recent years they didn't even
bother to try.
The Democratic candidates, in
Guiding four incumbents, are:
Franklin P. Backus, Marshall j.
Beverley, Leroy S. Bendheim, and
James M. Duncan, jr., incumbents,
and David S. Haddock, John j.
Ewald and Frank S. Mann.
The. Republican candidates are
Mrs. Viola D. Reid, Mrs. Ann w.
Viner. Robert S. Hope and r. Til
ton Gaines.
To Choose Own Mayor.
The seven victorious candidates
will choose their own mayor. This
Is the first time. and probably the
only time, that the choice OF
mayor will be made this way. In
the past, the council candidate re-
ceiving the most votes in the gen.
eral election became mayor.
A new city charter was passed
by the General Assembly two
years ago changing that, and the
selection of mayor was left up to
the council members themselves.
That regulation stays in force un-
til June q when charter amend
ment passed at the last General
Assembly becomes effective re-eS-
tablishing the former method.
But Alexandria voters aren't &C
customed to leaving selection OF
their mayor up to the council.
Most of them believe the council
will name as mayor the person
who receives the most votes in
Tuesdays balloting.
This situation is a help to the
Republicans. If the Democrats
cast an abundance of ''plunkers"
for one favorite candidate in hopes
of making him mayor, the Repub-
licans stand a better chance OF
winning some places on the coun-
Gil.
The Democrat candidates have
not publicly encouraged plunkers.
Their campaign principally has
been based on the record Of the
past all-Democrat council, and all
have listed construction Of sew
age disposal plant as one Of the
city's most pressing needs. The
city at the present time is await
ing completion of a regional sur
vey that will give exact costs of
possible solutions to the sewer
problem.
Chairman is COnn0enC.
Thomas Moncure, chairman OF
the Alexandria Democratic Com
mittee, expressed confidence that
the voters would elect all seven
nominees of his party.
The four Republicans have
nine-point platform. One of their
principal campaign arguments has
been that Alexandria has had a
Democratic administration too
long. They pledge to support
easier voting regulations, a bal
anced budget, immediate develop
ment of recreational areas, full
civil service and retirement plan
for city employees, stepped-up
health program and general i'm
provement of city services.
The Republicans have particu-
larly attempted to court votes
from residents of the new terri
tory annexed from Fairfax Coun-
ty by pledging orderly develop
ment of that area. Mrs. Viner OF
the Republican slate is the only
candidate in the election who lives
in the annexed area.
But the issues raised by both
sides apparently haven't aroused
much interest among the voters.
A scant 40 spectators attended the
only pre-election meeting at which
all of the candidates spoke.
In the civil and police court
contest, there has been a complete
absence of public campaigning.
The candidates are James N.
Colasanto and Harry F. Kennedy.
They are running without party
labels since the election is a spe-
ciaI one, and there was no time
for primaries. They are seeking
the neWly-created second judgship
of the civil and police court which
was established by action of the
recent General Assembly. The
other Judge of that court is
James R. Duncan. His position Is
not at stake in this election.
Rely on Personal Calls.
Mr.. Colasanto and Mr.. Kennedy
have been relying on personal can
vasSing of voters, rather than
public appearances.
Both are attorneys OF long
standing in Alexandria. Mr.. Co
lasanto Is a former president OF
the Alexandria Bar Association,
and for. 13 years was secretary OF
the Alexandria Electoral Board
He has lived in Alexandria since
1928, practiced law since 1929, and
for Is years has been, commits
sioner in chancery for the Corpo-
ration and Circuit Courts. Mr.
Kennedy, resident of Alexandra
since 1905, has practiced law Al
years, has been substitute justice
for the Civil and Police Court fol
many years and for Is consecu-
tive years was president and di-
rector of the Alexandria Boys
Club.
Two other names will appear on
Tuesdays ballots. They are v
Floyd williams, who is the unop-
posed Democratic candidate fol