Alyia Gaskins announced Monday she is running for mayor in Alexandria.
Her announcement came just days after current Mayor Justin Wilson announced he would not seek re-election after serving two terms as Mayor and more than a decade on City Council.
"Equipped with degrees in public health, urban planning, and a professional certificate in municipal finance, Alyia has tackled hunger policy at D.C. Hunger Solutions, advanced health policy at the National League of Cities, and managed an affordable housing investment program at the Center for Community Investment. Currently, as a Senior Program Officer at a national philanthropic organization, she works to end homelessness," according to her campaign website bio.
Her priorities as mayor will be to focus on supporting education, increasing housing and job opportunities, public safety and government performance.
On public safety, Gaskins said, "We all deserve to feel safe in Alexandria, whoever we are, wherever we live or work. The increase in crime has us all feeling on edge and feeling less safe. Maintaining the status quo is not acceptable."
Gaskins started her service on City Council in 2021.
Council member Amy Jackson says she is also planning to run, but she has not made a. public announcement yet.