By Timothy Conway, Alexandria (File photo)

To the editor:
When I reflect on whether Mayor Bill Euille — or any other political incumbent — is worthy of reelection, I never look much further than my own wallet.

During Euille’s tenure, the annual real estate taxes for my tiny wood frame house in Del Ray increased to $7,500 per year. This is money that my family now has to budget on a monthly basis into a special checking account, simply to meet our yearly property tax obligations.

This $7,500 in past years was allocated for occasional modest vacations, furniture purchases and college tuition account deposits. Such expenditures are no longer possible for our family. Once Alexandria taxpayers assume responsibility for the additional massive debt that will arise from Potomac Yard Metro station construction overruns, we undoubtedly will have even less disposable income.

In each election season, I ask my wallet to measure its own pain and decide whether incumbents should be ousted or retained. I will let readers guess how it voted for Mr. Euille and similar tax-and-spend incumbents, be they Democrats or Republicans.