A Few Words Before Tuesday

By now you know there are three very different candidates running for Mayor. On Tuesday May 1st, citizens will make their voices heard at the Herndon Community Center when ballots are cast for a new Mayor and Council. I have been honored to serve as your Vice Mayor for the past two years, and hope that I have earned your vote for Mayor on Tuesday. I want to serve as your Mayor because Herndon is the gem of the Dulles Corridor—the best place in Northern Virginia to live, work and raise a family. I want to be sure that it stays that way for generations to come.

Since early March, I have spent all day every weekend and many evenings walking in neighborhoods and talking with Herndon residents about my vision for the Town and listening to their concerns. What I have learned has been invaluable, and hearing from so many people who care deeply about our Town has validated why I chose to run in the first place. Many other residents have contacted me through my website or by calling, and it has been an extraordinary experience listening to and learning from so many of you. If I have missed your doorstep, please contact me directly—I want to hear from you. My contact information is available at www.lisamerkel.com.

I am aware of the negative commentary on some local blogs, divisive conversation about partisanship and various untruths about many candidates running for Mayor and Council. I have resisted the temptation to take part in those online battles. Instead, I have remained focused on getting out into neighborhoods all over town and meeting with HOAs, the Herndon Chamber of Commerce, business owners and other groups who have invited me to attend their functions. Yes, I have supporters who are and have voted for Democrats. I also have supporters who are life-long Republicans, and some who have never donated to a campaign prior to mine. And that’s the way it should be. Town elections are nonpartisan, as designated by our Town Charter. Herndon has been through enough in the past decade, and the people I’ve heard from throughout the Town are tired of the division and partisan battles in our nation day. They just want a Council that works together, spends their tax dollars carefully, maintains town services and promotes a great quality of life for residents. The Mayor and Council will work with colleagues and other elected officials who share parts of our existence in local, state, and area government roles. But we can—and we must—leave the larger partisan issues “at the doorstep” of our Town Hall and concentrate on our local chartered responsibilities.

There are also accusations about "outside” influence and specific groups. I can tell you that I have spoken to many groups and that those groups either do business or live in the town. I believe it is unfortunate that if a group of citizens band together to advocate for causes in which they believe, they are labeled and ridiculed and pressured toward silence. There are groups that advocate for positions with which I disagree. I listen and I try to see their points of view. Sometimes there is compromise to be had. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree. Just because a person belongs to a group with which I disagree does not mean they should have to give up their right to participate in their own town's government.  

When there is an atmosphere of mutual respect, we can listen to and learn from each other—and move forward together. From the Virginia League of Conservation Voters to the Chamber of Commerce, to the Virginia New Majority, to the American Association of Retired Persons—and I could go on—Herndon citizens in these groups have legitimate concerns and I will listen to them. And I will listen to you. And I will not dismiss your opinions because you do or do not belong to particular group.    

Endorsements do not require me—or any other candidate—to abide by certain rules or by the wishes of those who have chosen to endorse our candidacies. An endorsement simply means that the writer has heard my message and believes in my vision for moving Herndon forward. I am proud to have the endorsements of several groups, town residents and present and past public officials who care about the Town of Herndon.   
 
I have actively chosen not to sling mud at my opponents, and am proud of the positive, organized campaign that I have run this spring. I believe the way one runs for office is an indication of how one will serve in office and in that regard, I have not given in to taunts and invitations to fling accusations. I have remained focused on speaking to people directly, in person. If you want a Mayor that would prefer to engage in accusatory verbal battles with opposition, then I am not your candidate. If you want a Mayor that can rise above the bickering and stay focused on our town and local priorities, then I hope I have proven I can be that leader. I can say with confidence that I have a positive rapport with every candidate for Town Council, and look forward to the opportunity to serve as your Mayor with whatever Council is elected on May 1st.  

I do not support disbanding 287(g) or re-establishing the day labor center, and have said so publicly. My priorities have been, and continue to be Metro, Downtown, Economic Development and maintaining our outstanding quality of life in the Town.   

As your mayor, I will preserve our historic core and carefully plan for future growth. As a small, self-governed Town, we have the power to set the stage and define what it means to be a 21st century hometown. I will lead the charge to implement the Downtown Master Plan the citizens of this town worked to create, bringing activity and niche businesses downtown. We must address the parking issue, and actively market the town-owned land to the development community to show that we are, in fact, serious about downtown revitalization.  

A vibrant, successful downtown coupled with county-funded public transportation connections to the Herndon Metro Station will increase property values throughout town and set Herndon apart from other stops on the Silver Line.  

Metro will be the single most significant economic driver in the Dulles Corridor over the next 50 years, and it is crucial that Herndon embraces this opportunity.  As a teacher and parent, I know how important it is to invest in our future. Passing our Metro Area Plan was a good first step. Preliminary reports state that the traffic study on which this plan was based is “reasonable and accurate.” The eventual redevelopment of our Metro Station Area will allow Herndon to attract world class businesses to marquee spaces along the Toll Road. By increasing our commercial tax base in this way, we have the opportunity to decrease the tax burden for homeowners, while maintaining the services and quality of life we expect in the Town of Herndon.   

Traffic surrounding the Herndon Station is a concern for all of us, from the Metro station area to the intersection of the Herndon Parkway and Sterling Road. A great benefit of being an incorporated Town is that with our own Planning Commission and Council we control our destiny. With visionary long-range planning for Metro -multimodal transportation options, trails and adding a circulator bus component to the Fairfax Connector, will be priorities as I work for a 21st century Herndon.

I cherish our history and see endless possibilities for Herndon in the future. As your mayor, I will be accessible and approachable. I will establish office hours in the Town Hall where I will be available to interact with citizens directly. I will be careful with your tax dollars. I will continue to cultivate positive relationships with our County Board of Supervisors and our Chamber of Commerce, and like you, I will always put Herndon first.

Whether you are starting your family, starting your business or enjoying your retirement, Herndon has something for you. I look forward to serving the people of Herndon, and ask you for your vote—Lisa Merkel for Mayor—on May 1st.