Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel Says She Won't Seek Re-Election In 2020

HERNDON, VA -- Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel announced Thursday that she would not be seeking re-election for a fifth term this November, according to a press release. She will step down at the end of her current term.

Merkel first served as the Town of Herndon's vice-mayor from 2010-2012. She then was elected to serve as mayor starting in 2012 after winning a contentious three-way race by 38 votes. She also was the first woman to serve as the town's mayor. In her last election in 2018, she ran unopposed.

“I’ve truly loved serving as mayor and I’ll definitely miss the job. Ten years is a long time in elected office, and the people I’ve met along the way are what inspire me every day,” Merkel said, in a video posted to YouTube. “I’m anxious to see the next generation of leaders step up to serve. Fresh faces and new perspectives are what make a town like ours thrive.”

Among the highlights of Merkel's tenure as mayor was the rezoning for transit-oriented development of the future site of the Herndon Metro Station and approval by the Town Council of the first downtown master plan. Construction on the long-awaited downtown project is scheduled to begin this year.