Photo courtesy of Frank Cannon
Frank Fannon announced Monday he is running for City Council.
Former City Councilman Frank Fannon announced his candidacy Monday for City Council in the special election to be held April 21, 2026, to fill the seat vacated by Delegate Kirk McPike. Fannon previously served on the Alexandria City Council from 2009-2012 and was known as a voice of reason and an advocate for fiscal responsibility.
“Every citizen deserves a councilman, and I’m running for Alexandria, for the people of Alexandria” Fannon said. “I don’t believe in groupthink. I am an independent thinker who will put the citizens first.”
Neighborhoods are a key issue for Fannon. “Too many of our neighborhoods feel City Council has turned a deaf ear to their concerns,” Fannon said. He pointed to recent street redesigns and decisions on zoning. “There was zero support from single-family homeowners to construct apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods. It was forced upon them and should be reconsidered.”
Fannon also pegged density is a major quality-of-life issue for Alexandrians. “Alexandria is already among the most densely populated mid-size cities in the United States. Gridlocked streets are just one result,” Fannon said. He added, “It’s time to seriously reconsider plans to add tens of thousands more people to a city of 15 square miles with nowhere to grow.”
Fannon made his candidacy public at the annual Friendship Firehouse Presidents’ Day Breakfast. He has served as a Trustee for eight years for the organization that preserves the city’s historic firehouse.
“History is at the heart of what makes Alexandria special,” Fannon said. “Our unique history has attracted many of the residents who reside in our city today. History is what brings hundreds of thousands of tourists to Alexandria every year.”
Friendship Firehouse is just one reflection of Fannon’s long-standing commitment to preserving Alexandria’s history. He served as Finance Chair for the city’s 250th Anniversary Celebration in 1999. Now, as the country celebrates its 250th Anniversary, Fannon feels drawn to re-enter public service, building on an extensive record of community service for which he was honored as a Living Legend of Alexandria in 2020.
For nearly two decades, Fannon has organized "Alexandrians Have Heart," an annual food and clothing drive held over Valentine's Day weekend. The drive benefits local charities including Christ House, ALIVE! Food Bank, and Carpenter's Shelter. He currently serves as President of the Alexandria Aces, the city’s collegiate summer baseball team. He has served as president of Agenda:Alexandria, Volunteer Alexandria, and the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club.
Fannon previously served on the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, the Alexandria Library Board, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, and the board of the United Way of the National Capital Region. He is an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Old Dominion Boat Club, and the Alexandria Rotary Club.
Fannon recently retired from a successful 32-year career in residential mortgage banking with Crestar/SunTrust/Truist, creating homeownership for thousands of Alexandrians through the decades.
A proud fourth-generation Alexandrian, Frank Fannon is the great-grandson of T.J. Fannon, the son of an Irish immigrant who arrived in Alexandria in 1850 and founder of T.J. Fannon and Sons. Now in its 141st year, it is the oldest 100-percent family-owned business in the city of Alexandria today. Three generations of Fannons have served on the Alexandria City Council, including T.J. Fannon, who served as Vice Mayor.
For information about the Democratic Firehouse Primary for Democratic candidates, visit the Alexandria Democratic Committee website here.
