2024 General Election Candidate Profile: Abdel Elnoubi For Alexandria City Council

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As Alexandrians cast their ballots for president and Congress, the Nov. 5, 2024 general election in the City of Alexandria features local races as well. In the City Council general election, Abdel Elnoubi is one of nine candidates.

There are six City Council seats up for grabs. Six of the candidates won the Democratic primary election in June — incumbents John Taylor Chapman, Sarah Bagley, Kirk McPike and Canek Aguirre and School Board members Elnoubi and Jacinta Greene. Mason Butler and Roy Byrd are running as independents, and Celianna Gunderson is running as a Republican.

The City of Alexandria will have the mayor, all six City Council seats and all nine Alexandria School Board seats up for election in November. Federal elections on the ballot include president, Sen. Tim Kaine's U.S. Senate seat, and Rep. Don Beyer's eighth congressional district seat. The next state-level elections will be in 2025.

Early voting for the general election started on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 and continues through Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. More information on how to vote is available from the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration & Elections.

Patch asked candidates for mayor, Alexandria City Council and Alexandria School Board to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Abdel Elnoubi's responses:

Name

Abdel Elnoubi

Office Sought

Alexandria City Council Member

Campaign Website

www.abdelforalexandria.com

Age (As of Nov. 5 election)

37

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering & Master's Degree in Engineering Management

Occupation

Capital Program Manager at the WMATA, Member of Alexandria School Board

Family

Wife (of 13 years), two children (boy, eight and girl 12)

Previous public office positions or appointments

Alexandria City School Board, Alexandria City Community Criminal Justice Board, and Building Code Board of Appeals.

Why are you seeking this office?

I grew up in a corrupt dictatorship in Alexandria, Egypt, where regular citizens didn’t have any representation in government resulting in poor quality of life is, and lack of economic opportunities; I came to NYC at 20 years old, worked minimum wage jobs through college, and found opportunity and prosperity here in Alexandria. I graduated from college debt-free thanks to affordable public universities like the City College of New York and financial aid programs like the Pell Grant. This opened my eyes to how policies designed to help people can genuinely transform lives. I feel a responsibility to be part of that change and help shape progressive policies here in Alexandria, where I am raising two kids to improve the affordability and quality of life so that everyone in our city has the chance to thrive.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

My lived experience, I grew up under a dictatorship in the other Alexandria – Alexandria, Egypt, where the quality of life is poor, and opportunities are few; I came to NYC at 20 years old, worked minimum wage jobs through college, and found opportunity and prosperity here in Alexandria. The diverse immigrant and refugee community enriches the city of Alexandria. This shared background positions me uniquely to connect with, understand, and elevate the often underrepresented voices of these communities in our government. It also makes me realize how good policies can transform lives.

My track record as an elected official who is eager to ensure we have a government that works for the people and meets the needs of our constituents. My track record on the School Board includes
- Standing up for representation, accountability, and transparency.
- Doing my homework.
- Asking the tough questions while delivering for our community.

My professional transportation and engineering experience enables me to offer the City Council a distinct and valuable perspective. With 12 years of experience in transportation and expertise in maintenance, infrastructure, and capital budgets, I am well-equipped to systematically analyze and address the city's challenges, make informed decisions, prioritize sustainable infrastructure investments, and ensure efficient resource use.

With my community involvement as PTA president and secretary, City Council appointee to the Community Criminal Justice Board, parent soccer coach, and grassroots activist, I deeply understand our community and families needs.

What do you see as the top issues facing your city, and how do you address them in your campaign platform?

Housing affordability, an unbalanced tax base, slowing revenue growth, overcrowded schools, and need for a more accessible connected transportation system and safer streets.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My School Board accomplishments include listening to constituents, being accessible, and speaking out against the status quo. I also helped raise teacher pay, pass a fair collective bargaining resolution, add school psychologists, add Advanced Academic teachers, and create 15 mph school zones.