John F. “Jack” Powers, a former City of Alexandria employee and member of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, was sworn in by Clerk of the Circuit Court Ed Semonian for a three-year term on the Alexandria Electoral Board that began on March 1.
Powers, who was unanimously appointed by the three judges of the Alexandria Circuit Court, is one of two Democrats on the three-member board. The other members are Donald E. Ledwig, a Republican, and Susan B. Kellom, a Democrat. Members of the Electoral Board are nominated by the local political parties and appointed by the Alexandria Circuit Court, with two Board Members representing the political party of the Governor. The Board is responsible for the administration of all federal, state, and local elections conducted in Alexandria.
Powers has a long history of service in Alexandria. He was the Director of Community Programs at the City’s Department of Human Services before retiring in 2007 after a 30-year career. His division included the Office of Aging and Adult Services, the Office of Community Services, the Alexandria Multicultural Services Initiative and the Office of Early Childhood Development.
Powers was also a founding member and Chair of the Northern Virginia Coalition for the Homeless, a founding member of the Virginia Coalition for the Homeless, a founding member and President of Virginia CARES, and a founding member and President of Project Discovery of Virginia.
Powers received his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Wheeling Jesuit University and his Juris Doctor from The Catholic University School of Law. He has served as a volunteer photographer for numerous city and state political candidates since his retirement in 2007 and was awarded the Alexandria Democratic Committee’s annual Grassroots Award in 2012.
