Alexandria, VA – On Friday, December 15, 2023, James Lewis announced his campaign for Alexandria City Council.
“I’m running for City Council to keep our City moving forward,” said Lewis. “From my time on the Hill to City Boards, I have worked with neighbors to find real solutions that make our community better, safer and fairer. On Council, I will bring my experience listening to neighbors and developing collaborative solutions to address the major challenges facing our City: affordable housing, climate change-driven flooding, infrastructural needs, long-term ecologically sustainability and equal opportunity for all.”
Lewis is a long-time leader in the Democratic Party. Most recently, he served as Deputy Vice Chair of West End Precinct Operations for the Alexandria Democratic Committee (ADC.) He is the former ADC Precinct Captain for the Lyles Crouch precinct in South Old Town. He is the former President of the Virginia Young Democrats (2017-2018) and current Vice Chair, Communications of the LGBTQ+ Democrats of Virginia. From 2013-2015, he served as the Issue Advocacy Director of the Young Democrats of America, the nation’s oldest and largest youth political organization.
Within Alexandria, Lewis has worked to build a strong sense of community by working with business and citizens associations. He is the current Vice President of the West End Business Association (WEBA) and organized WEBA’s inaugural Best of the West event in August. Additionally, he is a co-founder of the Holmes Run Civic Association, former officer of the North Old Town Independent Citizens Association (NOTICe) and a condominium association president.
Lewis lives and works in the City of Alexandria. He is currently the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy for the professional society representing pharmacists who specialize in long-term and senior care. Before joining the association, he held senior-level roles supporting two members of the Congressional Black Caucus: Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Robin Kelly (D-IL.) He has additional experience working on national security, nonproliferation, manufacturing, trade and building/construction issues.
As a resident of Alexandria for more than a decade, Lewis has served on numerous City Boards and Commissions including the Traffic and Parking Board (current chairman) Transportation Commission and Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee. He currently sits on the Alexandria Sheriff’s Community Services Advisory Board where he leverages his expertise in long-term health care to support resident health and safety, including establishing a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment program within the jail.
Lewis holds a Master’s degree from the U.S. Army War College and a Bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary. While he currently lives on the West End with his husband, Trevor A. Riley of Richmond, VA, he has previously lived in North Old Town, South Old Town and Foxchase Apartments.
