Letter to the Editor: Attack on Walker Sets a 'New Low'

Dear Editor:

Boyd Walker’s opponents must be getting desperate. How else can one explain the below-the-belt bit of mudslinging many Alexandria residents recently received from a newly formed political action committee (PAC) calling itself “Alexandria Democrats for Responsible Government” (Gail Gordon, Treasurer)?  Every other piece of campaign literature for this primary election has been informative and positive, extolling the accomplishments and attributes of the favored candidate(s). The mailing from this new PAC, however, was a personal attack aimed directly at Mr. Walker. It set a new low for this race in attempting to discredit Mr. Walker as a serious candidate.

Could it be that the special interests that have been so favored by the current City Council and administration are afraid that Mr. Walker might actually win?  Certainly some as-yet-unidentified organization or group put a significant amount of money into this attempted hatchet job: the brochure was cleverly designed, it was printed in full color on both sides of a glossy, full-size page, and it was sent by mail to probably thousands of Alexandria residents just days before the Democratic primary.  And perhaps the mailing list was paid for as well.

On the other hand, the special interests are certainly right to fear Mr. Walker’s election. If he is successful in the primary and goes on to win election to City Council in November, they can count on him to work actively to block their current access to the public trough!

Sincerely yours,

Hugh M. Van Horn, Alexandria