Dear Democrats,

I think the soul-searching about what went wrong in this City Council election is healthy and appropriate and hopefully will lead us to a better understanding of the stresses on the party that resulted in this year's low turnout of Democratic voters. I also think the issue is broader than who did or did not do what during this campaign. It goes to the heart of what the Democratic Party should be - inclusive and accessible. We definitely need to do a better job of outreach and involvement for minorities (African-Americans and a growing immigrant population), youth and women.Keeping up a strong and active internal party structure from the neighborhood level up is equally important. Issues alone do not win elections but issues combined with strong party organization do.

As we examine this election process for its flaws, let's also examine it for its strengths. At this juncture, I believe we owe Alexandria Searls a debt of gratitude for carrying the party banner into what proved to be a difficult election facing an aggressive single-shot campaign by a well-funded opponent.

Contrary to what has been posted, Alex went door-to-door in every precinct, including those in which the Republican candidate took more votes. She began knocking on doors almost immediately after the nomination, and kept up a daunting door-to-door schedule throughout the campaign. She made personal appearances at events and meetings all over the city, and attended Council meetings, work sessions and presentations, just to bring herself up to speed on the issues. I personally saw her at almost every significant community event that occurred during the campaign period, including ground breakings, readings, public hearings, town meetings, etc. She continued to lead the Jefferson School citizens group and attended every meeting of the Lewis Mountain Neighborhood Association concerning the UVA Parking Garage.

Alex frequently could be heard at public forums and press conferences defending the actions and policies of the present City Council. At the same time, Rob Schilling made an effort to picture council as reactive, inept, unresponsive, overspending and negligent of our core neighborhoods. Yet Alex has defined for herself some important issues - including her active support of the Living Wage and the Staff Union at UVA (SUUVA), the Jefferson School and Ivy Parking Garage, building the arts and culture, Greenbelt trails, and others that perhaps could have brought more of those young and African American voters into the booths had her voice been heard.

We all perhaps could have coached, encouraged and mentored Alex more throughout the campaign, and I know that I certainly could have done more to raise funds and get out the vote.

Alex put a lot of energy and every spare moment of her time - when she wasn't teaching at Mary Baldwin and organizing a local film festival - into the campaign. I was very keen on her campaign, in spite of our disagreement on the Meadowcreek Parkway, because, quite simply, I wanted to see someone of her quality on City Council. It is not to be, but I credit Alex with a strong effort to the end.

Thank you, Alexandria Searls, for carrying the banner for all of us!

Meredith Richards (electronic mail, May 10, 2002)