To the Editor:
The Herndon Town Elections are coming up on May 1. I encourage everyone to check the candidates’ websites and attend events to learn more about them and their vision for Herndon.
Although I love living in Herndon, I feel like the Town is "stuck in neutral" as far as making any improvements that benefit its citizens and increase the tax base. The last major improvement to the town was the building of the Municipal Center and Library shortly after I moved here 19 years ago.
Especially during the last six years, there has been a shift away from support for any major projects. Other than a number of consulting studies that have yet to result in anything being implemented, the emphasis has been on public safety with an expansion of the police department and shrinkage of other town services to keep taxes as low as possible.
Various Town Councils have talked about re-vitalization of the downtown, incentives for metro development and traffic issues, but seem to be stuck in the planning stage. I would like to see a Town Council that is willing to take some risks and forge ahead with implementation.
Since the incumbent is not running for Mayor this year, we will be electing a new Mayor. The individual elected will provide the leadership to move Herndon forward to make it an even better place to live. I think that Lisa Merkel is the only candidate running who has the drive to make that happen.
Sheila Olem and Grace Wolf are first-term Town Council members who are running for re-election. They have proven over the past two years that they want to restore and improve town services, spur economic development, improve relations with other jurisdictions in Northern Virginia and promote new projects in Herndon. They have my vote. Melissa Jonas has served for the past two years on the Planning Commission and before that representing Herndon on a critical task force. She is now running for Town Council, where she would stand up for our Town while also working to move projects forward.
Jeff Davidson is a long time Herndon resident who has shown his commitment by attending most of the Town Council meetings over the two years. He is nearing retirement and is running for Town Council to give back to the community by using his extensive management experience. He is promoting a Town Wide Transportation plan that I believe is long overdue. Eric Boll is an engineer raising his children in Herndon and taking an active role in the Community. The actions outlined on his website show that he would be a strong Council member interested in implementing public improvements. Both Jeff Davidson and Eric Boll would be excellent new members of the Town Council and have my vote.
The candidates that I support all have a bias toward action and a vision that Herndon can retain its community spirit and home town atmosphere while implementing major projects that will benefit the citizens and bring in new tax revenues. I hope that you will consider these excellent candidates when you cast your votes on May 1 at the Community Center.
Nancy Myers
Herndon