Herndon Councilmember Running for Herring's State Senate Seat

Herndon Town Councilmember Sheila Olem has announced her candidacy to fill the seat that could soon be vacant in Virginia's 33rd Senate District if the State Board of Elections confirms Mark Herring's victory as the next attorney general on Monday.

After local vote canvasses were completed and certified last week on Nov. 12, Herring had only a 164-vote lead over his Republican opponent Mark Obenshain. Herring's victory is not cemented until the state completes its final canvassing and all returns are made official on this coming Monday, Nov. 25.

If and when that happens, Olem hopes the Democrats of the 33rd Senate District will choose her as their nominee to take Herring's place in the state legislature.

The Longtime Herndon Resident

Sheila and her husband Harvey Olem, an environmental engineer, along with their 5-year-old son Mike, moved to Herndon in 1990, when they bought their home in the town's Four Seasons neighborhood. Two years later they welcomed another son, Matt.

Then, tragedy struck.

"Little did I know that soon I would be a single mom raising two young sons," Olem said, describing how Harvey disappeared and was presumed killed in a plane crash while on assignment in South America in 1994, leaving her alone to raise 9-year-old Mike and 2-year-old Matt.

To make matters worse, Olem had to fight for a year to get a death certificate for her husband recognized in the commonwealth.

In many ways, that is when Olem's political career and passions were sparked.

Olem said, with the commonwealth not willing to declare her husband dead, she was stuck - she couldn't benefit from life insurance or social security, she couldn't even sell her home or her car if she wanted to, since they were in both of their names.

She even consulted the top probate attorney in Fairfax County, who told her she may have to wait the customary six years.

But, she decided to keep pressing ahead, and began to work with then-Lieutenant Governor Don Beyer to try and get legislation passed in Richmond to help people like her.

"I worked successfully with Virginia officials to change state legislation, and two bills initiated by me passed in 1996, allowing Virginia to recognize a State Department Presumptive Death Certificate," she explained.

The legislation passed with 100 percent of the vote in the state legislature—both Democrats and Republicans supported it.

Since then, the legislation has helped countless Virginia families who have lost family members in hurricanes, traveling abroad, and more.

Olem said her neighbors began to take notice of her tenacity.

"From then on, I've always gotten calls, whenever people have had issues," she said—and she's happy to help.

Olem's sons grew up attending Herndon schools and being very active in sports, and Olem has spent the past two decades and more being very involved in her town and community.

Long History of Town and Community Service

Olem has served on several town committees and organizations over the past 23 years, including the Herndon High School Sports Boosters and PTA; event committees for Nature Fest, Friday Night Live, NatureFest, the Herndon Festival, the Herndon Gardens and Holiday Homes tours, Herndon Rotary Club, Runnymede Park clean-up groups, and various nonprofit and civic organizations. Olem received the Volunteer of the Year award from the Friends of Runnymede Park in 2008 for her work on NatureFest that year.

She previously served on the Federal Water Quality Association, and still works with the group's scholarship committee. Olem is also the chair of the Virginia Democratic Women's Caucus.

Olem currently serves on the boards of directors for the Council for the Arts of Herndon, the Herndon Foundation for the Cultural Arts, and Sister Cities International of the Herndon Area.

Her Priorities for Virginia's Senate

Olem identifies transportation and education among her top priorities, and she has also worked in the areas of land use and health care in the region.

Olem holds a bachelor's degree in education with minors in drama and speech from the University of Alabama, and completed her teacher's certification in Mexico City at the American School Foundation. She also holds a master's degree in health administration from the now-University of Memphis. She has previously worked at Springwood Hospital in Leesburg, HCA Dominion Hospital in Falls Church, and HCA Parkridge Hospital in Chattanooga.

As a Town official, Olem previously served two terms on Herndon's Board of Zoning Appeals, from 2000 to 2007, serving as the vice chair in 2007. She was elected to the Town Council in both 2010 and 2012.

Olem has also served on several land use committees, as appointed by Dranesville District Supervisors, including the Hunter Mill Task Force in 2005 and the Dulles Toll Road Task Force from 2000 to 2001.

Olem also helped organize and represent her neighbors from 1991 to 1998 when it came to developments such as Rock Hill Road and the CIT property, liaising between residents, homeowners associations and county officials.

"We were successful in getting a wider buffer between the existing homes and the new development," Olem explained.

Olem said her wide breadth of experience in several aspects of the local area will benefit her work in the state's Senate if elected.

"As a Town official I have worked with Fairfax and Loudon county officials, area business owners and leaders, and that is and has been critical to my success in this position," she said. "My success in this position will translate into our Commonwealth’s success."    

"As an elected member of the Senate, my goal is to work with fellow elected officials as well as businesses owners and leaders to make common-sense decisions for the Commonwealth of Virginia," she continued. "And transportation issues are at the top of my list."

Olem said one issue she is very passionate about is that the state should be funding future rail projects, instead of continuing to raise tolls in the Dulles area.

"These people are just trying to get to their jobs, and it's unfair," she said.

Olem also said tougher penalties for those who text while driving and more awareness of the growing Lyme disease problem in Fairfax and Loudoun counties are important issues she would give attention to if elected.

Olem Will Face Loudoun Attorney in Special Election

One other candidate has announced she will also run for Herring's would-be-vacant seat—Leesburg attorney and former prosecutor, Jennifer Wexton.

Local Democrats will hold a "firehouse primary" to choose their nominee from the two candidates this Saturday, Nov. 23.

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