2022 Candidate Profile: Naila Alam Runs For Herndon Town Council

HERNDON, VA — Naila Alam has been a member of the Herndon Town Council since 2020 and is pursuing a new term on the council in the Nov. 8 general election.

Alam is running against fellow incumbents Cesar del Aguila, Signe Friedrichs, and Pradip Dhakal, as well as challengers Clark A. Hedrick, Keven J. LeBlanc, Stevan M. Porter, Donielle M. Scherff, and Roland B. Taylor 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

Naila Alam

Campaign Website

Nailaforherndon.com

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

Mohammad Alam (husband), Yasmeen Durrani (sister), I came to USA visiting our family friends in Falls Church and then decided to study that was not available in Pakistan: Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Managment

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

No

Education

Bachelor of Arts from St Joseph's Convent College, Karachi, Pakistan and Associate Degree , NoVa College

Occupation - Please include years of experience

CEO of Express Care, 20 years. Express Realty 18 years as Realtor

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Currently serving on Governor Glenn Youngkin: Advisory board on Service and Volunteerism, former board member for Former Governor Terry McAuliffe, Public Guardian and Conservatory Advisory Council, 2014 - 2015. •Former member, planning committee for Herndon Free Clinic. 2000.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I consider myself the voice of all community members who are reluctant to talk about their concerns with elected officials. They may be hesitant because of trust issues; language or cultural barriers; or their immigrant status. The Town of Herndon has never had a Pakistani councilwoman before. However, I have worked with a broad spectrum of ethnicities throughout the years, and I feel confident to represent the concerns of all my constituents.

Secondly, I want to be a role model for other women to become public servants and represent their communities.

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

There is no DMV in the Town of Herndon currently. A new law was enforced in which a "Real ID" is required to board any commercial flight or enter a secure federal building. Some of our residents do not have vehicles to drive easily into another city. The Department of Motor Vehicles is where a Real ID can be obtained. To solve this issue I want to see a permanent DMV established in our town to better serve our residents. During lockdown, I invited DMV Connect staff to set up a temporary satellite office in Herndon Community Center for 17 visits to facilitate residents in obtaining real IDs, licenses, and other DMV-related business. The DMV offices were closed due to the pandemic, and it was taking 6-8 months to get appointments. In addition, the appointment locations were as far away as Berryville; for those who don’t drive or own a vehicle, it was causing extreme delay in fulfilling their DMV needs.

Since then, many of the town residents want to see a permanent DMV facility in the Town of Herndon and that’s what I want to accomplish. I am sure that our senior citizens will benefit from the permanent DMV location God forbids.

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

Some other candidates are concerned about laws that inhibit businesses; traffic noise; and safer streets. These are all legitimate concerns, and the council is currently working on solutions. As a representative of minority communities, I want to make sure their concerns are expressed as well.

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

I would like to introduce new initiatives and ideas that would bring positive changes to the town such as keeping the parks children friendly. I noticed several times that there were broken beer bottles on the ground, making it extremely hazardous for children. Therefore, I would like to see the parks clean and safe for families.

Traffic calming is another issue that I would like to work on with the council and make sure that it is taken care of.

Our community members have notified me of recent scam calls, emails, texts and even knocking on their doors. Many elderlies are also targeted. I want to address this issue and make Town of Herndon the best place to reside and raise their families.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

During COVID I hosted a VEC (Vaccine Equity Clinic) in Herndon as well as a temporary DMV office. I personally augmented the free food distribution, by addressing the needs of town residents seeking fresh food and cooked meal as opposed to the canned and processed foods normally distributed. Time will tell if these services are still required. I will continue to work with the council on encouraging more Green options (the installations of electric car charging stations); safer streets (curbing jaywalking and enforcing speed limits); and "traffic-calming".

Recently, my elder sister underwent brain surgery after a massive stroke and was in ICU for a couple of months. Now on the recovery path towards healing, she is dependent for a wheelchair for mobility for now. Keeping her and other residents with similar needs in mind, I would like to work with the council on proper sidewalks with ADA compliance.

As I visit my constituents, I am constantly learning their concerns; it is an ongoing process and I love meeting people and solving their problems

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

I run a non-profit organization in Herndon, that requires of me similar skills that I use now as a councilwoman- listening to people and assessing their concerns, needs and wants. During the pandemic, the COVID-19 virus was spreading in the town; it was frightening to see trucks converted into morgues in New York City on the news coverage. If possible, I wanted to save our residents from the trauma of losing their loved ones to this deadly virus. I now feel satisfied that I was able to help residents get vaccinated, without registering themselves or finding locations to go to, due to the help of the Town Manager and the Fairfax County Health Department, vaccinations were provided at the Herndon Community Center. I would like to have a similar kind of vaccine camp in the event of any future emergency, God forbid, especially for those who lack computer skills, don’t know how to register online and are dependent on others for ride. My efforts to provide COVID shots did not end; people continue to seek my help in getting vaccinated. Therefore, I partnered with Herndon Giant Pharmacy to continue helping with vaccine implementation, education, and awareness.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Respect and appreciate differences. Diversity in any endeavor is an asset. When a multitude of unique perspectives are shared, the better chance there is of finding a creative and all- inclusive solution.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Boards that I served:

• Former Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Advisory Council on Public Guardian and Conservatory Advisory Board
• Former board member for Herndon Free Clinic
• Currently serving as board member for Governor Glenn Youngkin Advisory Council for Service and Volunteerism

I came to USA in 1995 and lived in Falls Church with a friend, then moved to Herndon 22 years ago. I appreciate that Herndon- and the USA- is a microcosm of the world. My husband has been involved in humanitarian work throughout his life, especially research on water and its universal benefits.

I enjoy helping people, just like my mother used to do in Pakistan. My two sisters, Yasmeen, and Ghazala, are always by my side in all the projects in which I am involved. However, last December, my eldest sister (Ghazala) suffered a massive stroke followed by brain surgery; she was on a ventilator for few weeks and in ICU for 2 months. By the grace of God and prayers from community members, she is on the path to recovery, although her mobility is still restricted.

I love traveling and have been to UK, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Oman, Dubai and UAE. Astronomy is something that fascinates me; the first book that I bought from my pocket money was on the universe and the solar system.

I love being a resident of Herndon as it is a diverse and interesting place to live. I helped my brother and sister settle in Herndon when they migrated from Pakistan, some 16 years ago. My mother is my role model for me as she was always there to help her relatives or neighbors. Her favorite flower was dahlia and so is mine.

The most important thing I want to share about myself is I WANT TO SEE EVERYONE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPOROUS IN THEIR LIVES.

Related:

• Incorrect Precinct Information Sent To Herndon, Vienna, Clifton Voters
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Roland B. Taylor Runs For Herndon Town Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Clark Hedrick Runs For Herndon Town Council
• Herndon 2022 General Election: Guide To Candidates, How To Vote
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Donielle M. Scherff For Herndon Town Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Stevan M. Porter Runs For Herndon Town Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Signe Friedrichs Runs For Herndon Town Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Keven J. LeBlanc Jr. For Herndon Town Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Pradip Dhakal For Herndon Town Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Cesar del Aguila Runs For Herndon Town Council
• General Election 2022: Key Dates To Know In Herndon