Alexandrians crowd election ballots - Virginia Politics - The Washington Post Alexandria Republicans have come up with a slate of three candidates to run for the six City Council seats up for election this year. The Democrats have 14 candidates battling for six nominations to be decided by a primary June 12. That's also the deadline for any independent candidate to register. Campaign signs for Alexandria City Council races sprout in median strips on major local streets. Patricia Sullivan - The Washington Post This is going to be fun. Latest news first: As expected, John R. "Bob" Wood has jumped into the Republican waters this week, joining incumbents Frank Fannon IV and Alicia Hughes (who last ran as an independent). Wood, a retired Army lieutenant general, most recently served on the mayor's Waterfront Plan Work Group, which sought common ground in the contentious local debate over redevelopment of the riverfront. There's no Republican primary; the party opted to run a slate of three. The Democrats, however, are in the midst of a rollicking primary. There's already been plenty of door-knocking and sign-planting. There's been a mini-scandal. The first campaign contribution report has been filed. Now, several groups have sprung up to advise voters on who would make the best nominees. (Word of warning: These endorsements may mean nothing. Check your favorite candidate's Web site to see who's endorsing him or her). Democrats for a Better Alexandria, a political action committee led by Dorathea Peters and Jack Sullivan that advocates revising the citywide master plan and making government more transparent, endorsed John Taylor Chapman, Tim Lovain, Sammie Moshenberg, Arthur Peabody, Boyd Walker and Justin Wilson. Alexandrians for a Liveable City, another PAC led by Katy Cannady, Lynn Bostain, Robert Pringle and Ginny Hines Parry, came together as a result of controversies over the waterfront plan and the Beauregard area plan, both of which they opposed. They advise voters to choose just five Democrats: Victoria Menjivar, Moshenberg, Peabody, Allison Silberberg and Walker. Let's see, who's missing? Incumbents Del Pepper and Paul Smedberg, and leading fundraiser Sean Holihan. Also missing: Melissa Feld, Donna Fossum and Michael Hepburn. Mark your calendars for the following candidate debates: Wednesday, May 9, 7 p.m. local Democratic Committee forum at Francis C. Hammond Middle School Auditorium, 4646 Seminary Rd. Thursday, May 10, 6:30 p.m., Tenant and Workers United forum, at Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 W. Reed Ave. Monday, June 4, 7 p.m., local Democratic Committee forum at George Washington Middle School Auditorium 1005 Mount Vernon Ave.