Sandy O. Marks (Alexandria City Council At-large, Virginia, candidate 2026)
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Sandy O. Marks (Democratic Party) is running in a special election for an at-large seat of the Alexandria City Council in Virginia. Marks is on the ballot in the special general election on April 21, 2026.[source]
Marks completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
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Click here to view Ballotpedia's local election coverage in Virginia by county in 2026.
Biography
Sandy O. Marks provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on March 22, 2026:
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign website
- Campaign endorsements
Elections
General election
The general election will occur on April 21, 2026.
Special general election for Alexandria City Council At-large
Sandy O. Marks (D), Frank H. Fannon (Independent), and Alison Virginia O'Connell (Independent) are running in the special general election for Alexandria City Council At-large on April 21, 2026.
Candidate | ||
Sandy O. Marks (D)  | ||
| Frank H. Fannon (Independent) | ||
| Alison Virginia O'Connell (Independent) | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Endorsements
Marks received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Marks's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D)
- State Sen. Saddam Salim (D)
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Sandy O. Marks completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Marks' responses.
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- Valuing public education
- Housing affordability
- Equity and access for all
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Note: Marks submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on March 22, 2026.
Campaign website
Marks' campaign website stated the following:
Issues
VALUING PUBLIC EDUCATION
Education is a critical community value. A long-time ACPS parent and volunteer, Sandy knows first-hand the value of our public schools as the places where children and families from all backgrounds come together.
“Our community is creating and recreating itself every day. And teaching the next generation of Alexandrians is crucial to our economic and social future.”
Alexandria, like the rest of the country, faces serious financial challenges—with ambitious plans and a finite budget. This is the kind of zero- sum game that can set important programs—and the people who need them—at odds.
That’s why Democratic leaders like Sandy worked tirelessly to elect Abigail Spanberger and a Democratic State House and Senate. With leaders at the state level who respect and prioritize public schools, now is the time to advocate for greater state funding to meet ACPS’s continuing needs. Sandy is who we want at the table for Alexandria.
- Leverage relationships with state legislators to fix the state funding formula that disadvantages Alexandria’s kids
- Partner with School Board to ensure accountability and address our aging school buildings
- Engage the community in our schools by uplifting performing arts and sports, college and career planning, and employment programs
- Create more athletic and recreational outlets for kids and teens after school—so they can play here, instead of in Fairfax and Arlington
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
Sandy and her mom spent a good portion of her youth in apartments rented on a secretary’s salary—in a sprawling, 100% car-based community without public transportation. She supports housing creation at all price points, especially near our city’s transit hubs.
Most Alexandria kids live in apartment communities, and their parents need quick access to transit to get to work and back in time for pickups and dinner. Sandy cares about transit-connected housing that supports all Alexandrians, from our youngest to our most senior.
“Kids who grow up in Alexandria ought to be able to live here for life.”
We know that demand drives up prices, and supply drives them down. Sandy will keep advancing policies that create more housing, expand options, and keep Alexandrians here, in our community, where they belong.
Lots of aging Alexandrians rightly worry: will my kids be able to afford to live in their hometown when they grow up? If our economy continues this way, will I be able to afford my rent or mortgage and age in place with dignity? To get to yes, we need to create more housing supply to alleviate the scarcity that sends housing prices through the roof.
- Improve permitting to drive down scarcity pricing and create more housing, faster
- Support creative uses of tax incentives and permitting options to encourage development that benefits everyday residents, at multiple price points
- Prioritize transit-oriented building for our youngest and most senior Alexandrians
EQUITY + ACCESS FOR US ALL
In a progressive, people-forward city like Alexandria, everyone can take advantage of the services our shared government provides. Still, there is work to be done to remove obstacles—to make opportunities and services accessible to all.
Sandy has spent decades promoting progressive, fact-based policies that serve the community.
“Access—not availability—is equity.”
The natural beauty of Alexandria is irrefutable. We are a historic city with a gorgeous waterfront and a mature tree canopy. We have public libraries, parks, and pools, a vibrant business community, outstanding restaurants and strong, mission-based non-profits that offer critical support—now more than ever.
But access to these community amenities shouldn’t depend on which neighborhood you live in, how close you are to public transportation, or your economic resources.
They are meant for us all.
Sandy will do more than simply to put out the welcome mat—she will open the door and invite us all in—to expand access to services to meet the needs of Alexandrians in every zip code, at all stages of life.
- Celebrate difference and affirm Alexandria’s commitment to inclusivity
- Lower heat vulnerability scores in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty
- Expand open space, parks, and athletic fields
- Prevent gun violence by targeting its roots
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY
Now, more than ever, leaders at all levels of government must have the will and fortitude to resist authoritarianism, uphold democracy, and protect the people they’re elected to serve.
Long before and throughout her two terms as Chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, Sandy built a record of action in support of gun violence prevention, and in protest of white supremacist policy, as well as Trump’s far-right, MAGA agenda.
She will work with the Mayor and Council colleagues, as well as leaders at all levels of government, to take bold action when necessary—and quiet action when strategic—to protect our city and its people.
- Continue Kirk McPike’s use of zoning tools to protect women’s clinics and abortion care
- Bolster Know Your Rights educational programs and protect our immigrant neighbors
- Protect our LGBTQ+ community from abuse by the federal government
- Hold corporations accountable and refuse campaign contributions from Dominion
— Sandy O. Marks' campaign website (March 16, 2026)
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
