Sandy Marks Sworn In, Giving Alexandria First Female-Majority City Council

Tonight’s swearing in of Ms. Marks represents something that I’m sure many thought was never possible. For the first time in our history, we have a majority female City Council.”  Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — History was made Tuesday night as Sandy Marks was sworn in as Alexandria’s newest city council member, giving the city its first female-majority City Council in its 276-year history.

A capacity crowd of city officials, constituents, and supporters packed the Del Pepper Community Resource Center for the 6:00 pm swearing-in ceremony, which opened the City Council legislative meeting.

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins opened the ceremony before Clerk of the Court Greg Parks read the certified results of the April special election and administered both the oath of office and the city’s ethics pledge.

Marks, a Democrat and former two-term chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, won the April 21 special election with 53% of the vote. She fills the seat vacated in January by former Councilman R. Kirk McPike, who ascended to the state house. Marks will serve through Dec. 31, 2027, at which point she would have to seek reelection to keep her council seat.

Before the ceremony began, Marks handed commemorative pins to the women in attendance. During her remarks, she read aloud the names of all 16 women who previously served on Alexandria City Council, asking the audience to recite each name with her. Marks becomes the 17th woman to serve on the dais.

“Until a few moments ago, in the 276 years since Alexandria’s historic birth, just 16 women have had the privilege to govern,” Marks declared to resounding applause. “It is my honor and distinct privilege to be the 17th Alexandria City Councilwoman sworn into office. Because of the events of this evening, because of the will of the citizens of Alexandria, Virginia, the first female-led governing majority was just born.”

City Council members rose for a standing ovation following Marks’ remarks.

Marks also framed today’s historic moment as an opportunity to shape the city’s future.

Sandy Marks listens to the mayor’s remarks. Seated beside her are her two sons, Cooper and Emmett Zissman, ages 17 and 14. Far left: Virginia Delegate R. Kirk McPike, John F. “Jack” Powers of the Alexandria Electoral Board. Photo: Judith Fogel/Zebra Press

“We know that when women lead, people’s needs are met,” she told the assembly. “Economies grow. Infrastructure connects neighbors. Children are educated. Seniors are honored. Communities are healthier, and families are fed.”

“On this night, at the very beginning of something, when everything is possible, I predict that Alexandria will be an exemplar,” she added.

Alexandria’s Clerk of the Circuit Court, Greg Parks delivers remarks before administering the oath of office to Sandy Marks. Photo: Judith Fogel/Zebra Press

With Marks’ swearing-in, two Jewish women now serve on Alexandria’s City Council. Marks joins Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley in that distinction.

Mayor Gaskins reflected on the challenges the city has faced during the past year, including federal workforce cuts, threats facing immigrant communities, economic uncertainty, the deadly plane crash near Reagan National Airport, and a major ice storm.

“As time went on, we faced other battles like the January 2026 snowstorm, something that I don’t think any of us would be able to weather. I tried to throw in a joke. I’m not the funny one on the council, but over 14 days, more than 500 staff members were mobilized to help see us through that response.”

Gaskins rattled off other challenges, such as cases of measles and rabid raccoons, eliciting laughter from the audience.

“Despite our ability to keep going, we’ve been doing it a member short,” Gaskins stressed. “We have not been operating at our full strength, and so part of the historic nature of tonight and the opportunity that is before us is we get to welcome a new team member.”

The mayor also praised generations of Alexandria women who entered public service “not for the title, not for the recognition, but out of a deep commitment to service.”

Following the ceremony, a jubilant Marks mingled with guests during a reception in the building’s café, pausing to talk to The Zebra.

“I am honored and humbled and thrilled to be a part of it,” she smiled broadly. “Have you met these other women on council? This is an incredible moment.”

Asked about her priorities entering office, Marks pointed first to education and housing affordability.

“Obviously, equity is a huge issue in our city,” she said. “To that I would like to add a focus on climate justice and climate equity.”

Marks also stressed the need for economic development and business growth in Alexandria.

“We really need to get business moving in Alexandria and keep our businesses open and our families fed,” she said.

She added that the city must move aggressively to strengthen its economy.

Sandy Marks addresses the audience, following her oath taking. Photo: Anh Pham

“We need to be bold,” Marks said. “The days of timidity are over. We are in a national, a federal, state and a local situation where we need to make some moves.”

Front row, left to right: Sandy Marks, her two sons Emmett and Cooper Zissman, retired City Councilwoman Del Pepper, Anh Pham. Photo: Judith Fogel/Zebra Press