As Alexandria’s First Black Female Mayor, Gaskins Makes History at Inauguration

ALEXANDRIA, VA-Alyia Gaskins made history on Jan. 2. She was sworn in as Alexandria’s first Black female mayor. A beaming Gaskins took the oath of office while flanked by her husband and children. She then brought a capacity crowd at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center to its feet when she acknowledged the history being made, declaring “The magnitude of this moment is not lost on me.”

Gaskins’ nine-minute speech echoed themes from her campaign, including a promise to focus on education, government performance and accountability, small business and economic development, and the youth. “For 275 years, Alexandrians have dreamt and fought for a better present and future,” Gaskins said. “And so tonight, I feel a deep sense of joy, a humility, and a deep responsibility to deliver on the faith and dreams of my ancestors.”

Gaskins graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in medicine, health, and society. She subsequently obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from Georgetown University, and a Professional Certificate in Municipal Finance from the University of Chicago.

The new mayor has worked on 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. She is currently a Senior Program Officer at the Melville Charitable Trust, a national philanthropic organization devoted to ending homelessness. There, she leads efforts to advance housing justice through better land use policies. She is also the founder of CitiesRX, a consulting firm specializing in cross-sector partnerships with cities to foster healthy, sustainable environments.

Gaskins, who was first elected to Alexandria City Council in 2021, succeeded Justin Wilson, who announced in December 2023 that he would not seek another term. During her campaign, she garnered several high-profile endorsements, including Wilson’s, former Alexandria Mayor William “Bill” Euille, former Alexandria Mayor and Virginia Congressman Jim Moran, several former Alexandria Councilmembers, and other Virginia mayors.

She ran unopposed in the November general election after winning 60% of the vote in the September Democratic primary, easily besting Vice Mayor Amy Jackson and retired real estate developer Steven Peterson.

Before the installation ceremony, Wilson told The Zebra that, while it was odd not to be on the stage, he was excited about Alexandria’s next chapter under the leadership of its new mayor: “I know what it takes to perform in that position and, in her, I saw someone who can provide the leadership this city requires.”

At Thursday’s installation ceremony, incumbent Alexandria City Council members Sarah R. Bagley, John Taylor Chapman, Canek Aguirre, and R. Kirk McPike were also sworn in for their three-year terms, as were new members Jacinta E. Greene and Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi (who replaced Gaskins and Jackson). Following her official installation as “Madame Mayor,” Gaskins presided over the unanimous election of Bagley as Vice Mayor, who said that “we live in a beautiful city, rich in history, rich in talent, rich in culture, and rich in philanthropy, but not without its challenges.”

The two-hour ceremony began with a processional by the City of Alexandria Pipes & Drums and Alexandria Town Crier Dr. Benjamin Fiore-Walker, who celebrated the “launch of the city into a new legislative term, a historic event built on change and hope.” It also included remarks from Wilson, who noted that, because of the diversity of the new City Council, “today there are more Alexandrians who can see themselves on this stage,” and from Jackson, who said it was the “privilege and honor of a lifetime” to serve for the past six years.

Alexandria’s Poet Laureate Zeina Azzam read a poem, “Our City Renewed.” Greg Parks, the Clerk of the Court who administrated the oath to Mayor Gaskins and each of the City Council members, reminded the crowd that the first law passed by the United States Congress under the new constitution was “An Act to Regulate the Time and Manner of Administering Certain Oaths.”  and that the practice of an official taking an oath traces back more than 2000 years, to Athens.

Patsy Ticer became the first woman to serve as Alexandria’s mayor in 1991, serving until 1996. In 2003, Euille became the city’s first Black mayor, holding the office for a record 12 years.

CORRECTION: This report has been updated to reflect that Greg Parks did not mention the first Continental Congress but the U.S. Congress. We apologize for the error.

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