the del ray Citizens association presents the
OUR 2022 JUDGES
Sean Crumley
“I grew up in New York City where the holidays meant the visiting the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and oohing and aahing over the department store windows along Fifth Avenue, but since moving to Del Ray in 2005 with my husband Juan, I celebrate the holidays on Mount Vernon Avenue.
What drew us to Del Ray and what keeps us here is the strong sense of community and the opportunities we neighbors have to build on that strength. There are so many ways to participate; I’m particularly proud of my service on the board of Del Ray Citizens Association (2007-2022) and the Del Ray Artisans (2015-2018, 2023-). I’m looking forward to judging this year’s decorating competition because Del Ray really pulls out all the stops during holiday time.”
Councilmember Canek Aguirre
Canek Aguirre was first elected to the Alexandria City Council in November 2018 and re-elected to a second term in November 2021. Born and raised in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrants, Canek is the first Latino to ever serve on the City Council. During his time in public office, Canek has focused on increasing housing opportunities, investing in our public schools and transportation infrastructure, eliminating health inequities, and making government more accessible and accountable. He serves as Chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, Chair of the Transportation Planning Board’s Access for All Advisory Committee, and as an alternate on the WMATA Board. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker serves in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 45th District which includes parts of Alexandria (including Del Ray), as well as parts of Arlington and Fairfax. She serves on the House Finance and Counties, Cities & Towns Committees. During her first session, she passed bills expanding the ability for advisory public boards and commissions to hold electronic meetings, strengthening protections for victims of stalking, and supporting electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Elizabeth was named a Legislative Champion by the Virginia Education Association, received a 100% score from the Virginia Sierra Club and League of Conservation Voters, and earned an A+ from ReproRising (formerly NARAL Virginia).
Elizabeth previously served as the Vice Mayor of Alexandria and the Chair of the Operation Board of the Virginia Railway Express. She is a former co-leader of Together We Bake, a nonprofit that provides job training and personal development programs for underserved women. She and her husband and their rescue dog and cat live in Del Ray.