Newcomer Michael Clinkscale runs for city council alextimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from alextimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A slew of vandalism incidents has recently hit Alexandria, evoking concerns among some residents about potential gang activity in the city.
Last week, residents in Potomac Greens and Old Town reported similar details about incidents involving the marking up of property, all of which seemingly targeted homes with a one or an eight in the address.
In one post to the social networking site Nextdoor, where neighbors buy and sell items as well as share tips among other community members, a video shows a man, who appears to be in his 20s with dark hair, scratching out the number 18 in a townhome. Another post shows a photo with black symbols on a home’s street number and another covering a sign with the words “Mara Salvatucha,” which is associated with MS13, an international criminal organization with a presence in the region.
Alexandria Primary Results: Wilson Wins Mayoral Race, More - Del Ray, VA - Mayor Justin Wilson once again defeated former Mayor Allison Silberberg in a rematch, and the City Council nominees were decided.
Mark Shiffer is a problem solver. It is a skill he has honed meticulously over the years, Shiffer said, and one he plans to bring to the City Council dais if given the opportunity.
A former computer science professor and technology executive with more than 20 years of experience, Shiffer said a councilor’s job is not so different from his own.
“Basically, I solve complex problems for a living and I’ve built teams to do so,” Shiffer said. “The City Council’s job is essentially an executive position. It’s not just coming up with good ideas; it’s also overseeing the city. And I think in order to do that job well, you actually need to have experience solving problems so that you can know if you’re being fed a line.”