Alexander: ‘Still So Many Things To Do’

Marylin Alexander was born and raised in Lexington, and with the exception of summers in her teenage years and the four years she was in college, has lived here her whole life. Although she would commute out of the area for work, whenever she discussed the idea of moving with her children, they “balked.”

“We are glad they did,” she said. “Lexington is safer than many other areas, our school system is excellent and it’s a clean, beautiful city. It’s small enough that we can look out for each other and large enough to easily steal away for rest and reflection with our mountain scenery, a little music and a good book.”

Alexander has made a career in public service, beginning in the local offices of the Virginia Employment Commission as an interviewer, counselor and account representative. Her father had been in that office years before after being laid off from the Tannery in Buena Vista, and “had to sit and watch everyone being waited on until his name was finally called at the end of the day.

“Years later he was still angry about it when he shared his experience with me,” Alexander said. “I decided I would do my best to help make a difference in the lives of people who need help the most … I have always viewed my time on City council not as a politician, but being of service to the public, the citizens of our city.”

Alexander is running for her fifth term on City Council, where she currently serves as the city’s vice mayor and also as one of the representatives on the Threshold Housing Commission. She decided to run again this year because “there are still so many things to do.

“I’ve mentioned in the past that I didn’t plan to run but having that voice from a lifelong resident offers a unique perspective in the decision-making process,” she said. “There was a great deal of time spent on our Comprehensive Plan, in addition to the Council’s priority list, both of which we need to refer to regularly to ensure we are consistently working toward those goals. I want to continue helping to bring those plans to fruition.”

Alexander has a wealth of experience in the affordable housing industry that she brings to Council, having “poured [her] heart and soul” into managing Mountainview Terrace Apartments, a nonprofit, affordable multi-family housing community in Lexington. With that experience, she is “able to decipher much of the terminology in city discussions, as well as offer Fair Housing information.”

“I also understand that this particular type of industry is a specialty requiring the time, effort, financial support and expertise required if attempting to develop affordable housing,” she added. “When working with any targeted group you learn about experiences, challenges, characteristics and special needs in order to determine the resources needed in a community. I always say that every family walking through our door has a story and if we can at least eliminate their need for housing, with time the rest of their needs will fall into place as long as we have a community of resources and continuing to advocate for those resources is crucial.”

If elected for another term, Alexander has a number of issues she hopes to address in addition to expanding the city’s affordable housing options, including cleaning up alleyways that aren’t owned by the city, coming up with a plan for the VMI employees who currently park on North Main Street for when the proposed bike lanes are added to that part of the street, and addressing the concerns of “institutional creep” to “determine how both institutions can meet their needs without affecting downtown enhancements.

She also hopes to address several issues in the Diamond Hill and Green Hill areas, including the derelict and dilapidated properties, the increase in the number of party houses and the overrun of investment/rental properties, as well as designating the historic Green Book houses “to enhance neighborhood preservation overall in these historic areas.”