Meet The Candidate: Cesar del Aguila For Herndon Town Council

HERNDON, VA — In addition to voting for the president and vice president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative in the Nov. 3 general election, residents of the Town of Herndon will be choosing from among 10 candidates to fill vacant seats on the Town Council. They will also choose who will be the new mayor.

Cesar del Aguila, 55, has 35 years experience in information technology sales. He is running for the Herndon Town Council.

As part of its coverage of the 2020 election, Patch has asked each of the candidates in Herndon to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

Candidate

Cesar del Aguila

Age (as of Election Day)

55

Town/City of Residence

Herndon

Office Sought

Town of Herndon Council

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

I gladly and with great pride take care of my 85-year old parents, and my 52-year old sister fighting debilitating MS.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

High school, trade school, some college and several industry certifications.

Occupation

Information Technology Sales - 35 years

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/Cesar...

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Herndon Town Council Member

The single most pressing issue facing our town is the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I will help prioritizes cuts and find new sources of revenue.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I support the peaceful movement and it is long overdue. I believe in facts and statistically there is a problem, so we need to address fears at all levels within all communities.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

Defund? No. Locally I think there are always opportunities to reallocate budgets. I am open to ideas and suggestions but clearly we must have the discussions with all affected parties and consult advisors on what changes could be made.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

The Federal response has been confusing and chaotic, but the state actions have been prudent. I favor science-based restrictions and a mask mandate for the foreseeable future.

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

I consider myself an agent of change and willing to provide and listen to contrarian views. Too many elected officials get institutionalized, do not like change, or they think everything is great. I am here to make changes, not wait for things to happen, then react. We must position the town for the future and that means proactively planning beyond this years budget cycle. We must forecast 5 to 10 years out when we prioritize line items in the budget. Example, we must address the general fund, having two months of operating reserves, and extend it to prepare for the the next economic downturn. This requires planning and budget commitments.

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

We failed to take advantage of the economic growth over the past ten years and now we face a budget crisis. We could have planned and provide funding for many of the CIP items consistently pushed out year over year. We must transform how we continue to provide services before they are stretched in an environment that is increasing demand for these services. We know the growth in demand is coming but it seems many council members want to wait for things to surface rather than proactively planning and addressing the issues ahead of time. I want to be proactive.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I want the public to have enough time and a real opportunity to review the financial impact of the downtown development. I do not hear other council members publically raising concerns. I have said commercial bonds give me pause but I want to see the entire proposal. I hope we can all access the proposal financial details soon.

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

I volunteer as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office. So I respect authority and those that serve. I believe in providing safety for everyone in the community. I have helped several private companies go public to create wealth for their shareholders. I have held several executive positions in large corporations. I've learned leadership and focusing on issues from the brightest minds in our county. I leverage my business, family and team experience in all things I do.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Success means we are more transparent with decision making, the town is easier to do business with, residents are not challenged to repair their homes and there are many opportunities and housing options for anyone that wants to call Herndon home.

Why should voters trust you?

I come from a large latino catholic family and I respect all views. Integrity is paramount and I promise to tell voters what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

We must have a balance of constant cuts, reallocations and new revenues. The regional environment is constantly changing so we need to proactively adjust our allocation, spending and sourcing of revenues.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Senator Mark Warner once told me, when you get into elected office, 1/3 of the people will love you, 1/3 of the people will not, and the final 1/3 just want you to get things done. So by default we should be getting lots of things accomplished if we focus voters on the real issues. I plan to keep practicing this approach.

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

I believe nature has a way of spreading talent across many people but the opportunity to leverage talent is not spread equally. I want to help create an environment where people and businesses have opportunities in our town. I had a lot of help getting to where I am. I have been blessed and give back as much as I can. I do not have all the answers so I surround myself with very talented people. This is how I keep my ego in check. I am always available to discuss issues and enjoy hearing new ways of addressing new challenges. I would be honoured to have the support and trust of the Herndon voters once again.

Also see ...

Herndon Town Council Candidates

• Cesar del Aguila
• Sean Regan

Mayor of Herndon Candidates

• Roland Taylor