Del. Rust Receives OPAL Award
The American Society of Civil Engineers awarded Del. Thomas Davis Rust (R-86) an Outstanding Project And Leaders (OPAL) award in Arlington on March 26, for his lifetime achievement in government. The national OPAL award was established 15 years ago, to recognize outstanding civil engineering leaders whose lifetime accomplishments and achievements have made significant differences.
Herndon Election Changed for Good
Herndon's next town election will take place Nov. 8, 2016.
Arthur Nachman told Herndon's Town Council that their actions after Tuesday's council hearing would be just as important to the Town's future as their vote Tuesday night, March 10.
Herndon’s Rotary Club Names Lisa Lombardozzi Citizen of the Year
For the next three to four weeks, Lisa Lombardozzi will have one eye on spring training in Florida.
Tom Rust to Retire from General Assembly
Rust improved life for Herndon, and for Virginia, say many.
Right after she was elected mayor, Lisa Merkel invited Del. Tom Rust to lunch. “I said, ‘How do you get things done?’ He said, ‘You have a vision and you stick with it and you keep pressing ahead,’” Merkel said. “It was a great lunch.”
Herndon Forbidden to Govern Itself?
Virginia House squashes Town’s move to November elections.
The Virginia House of Delegates blocked the Town of Herndon’s plan to move town elections from May to November. The change would have begun in 2016. Despite passage through the Virginia Senate with a unanimous 39-0 vote on Jan. 26, the House of Delegates never voted on Herndon’s bill. After the bill cleared the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns, the House voted to sent it to the Committee on Privileges and Elections on Feb. 20.
GMU Students Rally to Lower Student Debt
Members of GMU Student Power Travel to Richmond to voice concern over rising debt.
Twelve students from George Mason University traveled to Richmond with the Virginia Student Power Network, rallying and calling for debt-free education, and for increased educational opportunities for undocumented students. Rodrigo Velasquez, a junior at Mason from Springfield and GMU Student Power’s organizer, was one of the 12 from Mason who also went to Richmond.
Impromptu Motion Struck Down
Singh resolution reaffirming Town position failed.
A prior incident between a councilmember and the town manager lead to an impromptu motion. Councilmember Jasbinder Singh motioned for a resolution at the Jan. 27 meeting calling for the town manager - currently Arthur Aselene - to give council members any material they want to decide on resolutions.
Outlook: Downtown Herndon Takes Shape
Washington and Old Dominion Trail to become “centerpiece,” says mayor.
This year will be all about creating a livelier, more energetic downtown. The town council will take their plans to make the historic area more business-friendly from resolutions to reality this year.
Puller Will Not Seek Re-election
Just as the Virginia General Assembly kicked off its 2015 January session, state Sen. Linda T. “Toddy” Puller (D-36) announced her decision to not run for re-election later this year. “It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve the people of the 36th district in the Senate of Virginia,” Puller said in a Jan. 14 statement. “Now, with the encouragement, love and support of my family I have made the decision to step down.”
Herndon Residents Air Concerns to Legislators
Town Hall meeting addresses concerns about elections, Dulles Toll Road.
Education, town elections and transportation. Those and more were the topics Herndon residents asked about during the town hall meeting with Del. Tom Rust (R-86) and state Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-33) on Jan. 17.
A Year Ahead: Herndon in 2015
Taking new downtown off paper and into reality.
This year will be all about creating a Metro-friendly downtown. While the town council focused on policies that will make the historic area more business friendly, 2015 will take them off paper and into reality.
November Herndon Elections Approved
May elections nixed, two year terms stay.
Herndon elections will transition into a November election schedule. Herndon Town Council voted to amend the town charter at the Dec. 9 meeting to allow for the elections to be held in November rather than May after four public hearings.
Herndon Residents Discuss Possible Town Charter Changes
Town Council to decide on Nov. elections, four year terms Dec. 9.
Citizens lined up after a long night to argue for or against changing the town’s charter. The proposal to change aspects of the town election was discussed during its third public hearing at Herndon Town Council’s Nov. 25 meeting.
Many Herndon Residents in Opposition to November Elections
Town Council holds second public hearing on possible town charter changes.
Herndon’s town council heard from another crowd of residents about proposed changes to the town’s election process. Residents for and against changes to the number of years councilmembers and the mayor serve and moving the election to November spoke out at Nov. 11 town council public hearing.
Steady Election Turnout in Reston and Herndon
Voters aware of new photo ID requirement.
Midterm elections were held throughout Virginia on Nov. 4, with voting stations open at locations throughout the commonwealth’s 95 counties. “There will be approximately 2,500 election officers working at the county’s 238 precincts,” stated Lisa M. Connors, public information officer for Fairfax County.