2022 Candidate Profile: Clark Hedrick Runs For Herndon Town Council

HERNDON, VA — Clark Hedrick is an attorney and the vice chair of Herndon's Board of Zoning Appeals.

Hedrick also is running against incumbents Naila Alam, Cesar del Aguila, Signe Friedrichs, and Pradip Dhakal, as well as fellow challengers Keven J. LeBlanc, Stevan M. Porter, Roland B. Taylor and Donielle M. Scherff for the six seats on the Herndon Town Council.

Patch asked each of the candidates in the Herndon Town Council race to fill out the following questionnaire.

Name

Clark Hedrick

Campaign Website

clarkhedrick.com

Names, ages and any pertinent detail you wish to share.

Elizabeth Hedrick (wife), R. (boy, 5), C. (girl, 3), R. (girl, 1)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

Yes. I work in government. I'm the Vice Chair of Herndon's Board of Zoning Appeals and I work for the Federal government.

Education

Biola University, BA Political Science; Biola University, BS International Business; The George Washington University Law School, JD

Occupation - Please include years of experience

Attorney, 7 years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I am currently the Vice Chair of Herndon's Board of Zoning Appeals

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for Town Council because I love the Town of Herndon and I believe I have the skills and experience to improve our Town's government. My wife and I bought our home here in 2016 because we loved Herndon's "small town charm," the historic downtown core, and the vibrant, diverse culture of community. We set down roots and were blessed with 3 children in the first 5 years here. We see that Herndon is at a fork in the road: As the Metro station opens and downtown redevelops, our Town must have a clear vision of who we are—a small town with an historic core. If we value and cultivate those qualities, Herndon will be the best place to live in the area. However, if we lose sight of that vision we will lose what makes us distinct from the rest of western Fairfax. The Town Council is the guardian of that vision.

Relatedly, I am concerned Herndon is becoming less and less affordable. On average, our real property tax bills increased by about $725 last year, alone (about $600 in County taxes and $125 in Town taxes). As housing assessments continue to increase, we run the risk of pricing out both first-time home buyers and folks who are looking to retire (transitioning to a semi-fixed income). If young families and retirees cannot afford to live here, we will lose our sense of community; we risk becoming just another DC bedroom community. To avoid that, we need to prioritize budget efficiency, finding ways to provide great and improving services without increasing the tax burden on residents. I have both the skills and experience to do just that.

The single most pressing issue facing the Town of Herndon is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Affordability. As mentioned above, our real property tax bills increased on average about $725 last year. If you are a young family or looking to retire and transition to a semi-fixed income, that kind of tax increase is unsustainable. Herndon residents are struggling to afford living here. We need to prioritize their needs. We need to do everything we can to limit increases to the Town's budget so that we can provide relief to folks who are struggling to stay in Town.

One example of unnecessary budget increases: last year, all six current Town Council members voted to nearly quadruple the Town Council salary. While your tax bills were going up, while the price of groceries and gas were skyrocketing, while most Herndon residents were watching our real wages decline, this Town Council decided it was the right time to increase its own salary by 375%—that increase comes directly from our tax dollars. The first thing I will do if elected is to move that we repeal that increase. The Town Council needs to totally reorient its perspective on taxes and the budget; to understand that every increase places a little more burden on our neighbors who are least able to bear it

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

1) I am one of two candidates for Council who has young children at home. My vision for Herndon is on a 50-60 year horizon, knowing that they will be living in or returning to this community for decades. I want to make sure this can be a home for them and their families for decades after any of us are on the Council.

2) I am an attorney who works frequently with government oversight, compliance, and budgets. There is often a disconnect between policymakers, policy implementers, and constituents. My professional experience is steeped in bridging those disconnects. I believe it is a skill I can apply to the business of the Council as it considers changes to Town policy, to staff as they implement those changes, and to residents.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I am grateful to everyone who serves on the Town Council, they face much criticism and commit much time and effort, often with little thanks. It is easy to be an "armchair quarterback" and, I would prefer to focus on the future, rather than critiquing past actions. However, because I already mentioned it, and am committed to reversing it, I think that nearly quadrupling the Council Member salary was an error in judgment indicating wrong priorities. I will always put the needs of Herndon residents first.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

You will see on all my signs and literature the phrase "Herndon Together." This is the central value of my campaign and it will guide my agenda if elected to the Council. Unless you live under a rock, you know how polarized it seems almost everything in the world is. However, as I knock on doors and speak with neighbors in every corner of Town, I've found that we agree on 99% of the issues the Town Council is tasked to address. We all want walkable communities, responsive, transparent government, responsible budgets, well-paved (and quickly cleared) roads, a compassionate, competent police force, et cetera. The only differences we have are how to prioritize those needs.

Frankly, the Council could devote all of its time to those needs and still have work to do. So instead of spending Council time on divisive, partisan issues, the Council should be listening more and focusing on the needs of the community; the Council needs to improve the way it invites input from the community in order to hear from a greater number and diversity of perspectives. Let's bring "Herndon Together" to do that. If elected, I would vote against any provision or motion that would elevate divisive, partisan issues in Town government no matter where the proposal comes from.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The Town Council is a demanding role, and I live and thrive in demanding circumstances. Whether it's the rigors of a professional legal environment or parenting three young children, I've demonstrated what it takes to not just excel in, but also to bring order to less-than-ordered situations. In all seriousness, the Town Council is a legislative body and my professional training and experience is wholly devoted to improving good governance.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but forfeit his soul?" Not to get too philosophical, but we are all meant to work to improve the lives of those around us. If I put my own individual desires above the needs of others, at their expense, I have not just lost my community, but my integrity. For me, this phrase helps me order my personal and public priorities; it has been my guiding light since before I can remember, probably having first learned it sitting at my parents' knees.

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