Meet The Candidate: Clark Hedrick 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.

Clark Hedrick, 32, is a federal government employee and a current member of the Herndon Board of Zoning Appeals. He is running for a seat on 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

Clark Hedrick

Age (as of Election Day)

32

Town/City of Residence

Herndon

Office Sought

Herndon Town Council

Party Affiliation

Non-partisan

Family

Elizabeth Hedrick, 31 (wife); R. Hedrick, 3 (son); C. Hedrick 1 (daughter).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Yes. I am a current member of the Herndon Board of Zoning Appeals; I am also a federal government employee and my wife is a federal government contractor.

Education

B.S., International Business (Biola University, '10); B.A., Political Science (Biola University, '10); J.D., (The George Washington University Law School, '16)

Occupation

Attorney

Campaign website

www.clarkhedrick.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Current member of the Herndon Board of Zoning Appeals

The single most pressing issue facing Herndon is its budget, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Due to uncertain revenue projects, the Town must exercise extreme budget discipline and fiscal restraint in order to maintain service standards and town personnel. The Council must find long-term efficiencies in order to stabilize the budget and make required investments to relieve stress on the Town's infrastructure.

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

I support local police, with local funding, and robust local oversight. Herndon is fortunate to have its own, well-functioning police department and I look forward to working for greater transparency.

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

I am the only Council candidate who has neither sought nor received the endorsement of any political party. If elected I will champion efforts to reduce the influence of political parties on the Town's elections—this way, we can re-prioritize the local issues which are of prime importance for Herndon residents.

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

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Herndon Together:

1. Improving Together—reviewing land use code to reduce costs on residents and eliminate discriminatory regulatory costs.
2. Voting Together—ensuring that local elections remain local; local issues with local support prioritized for the local good.
3. Healthy Together—requiring that our parks and recreation facilities grow as Herndon's population grows.
4. Learning Together—taking an active role in holding our local FCPS and library officials accountable to residents' concerns.
5. Growing Together—preserving the small-town feel of Herndon's historic core while providing for smart development surrounding the new metro station.

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

I'm currently a member of the Herndon Board of Zoning Appeals. In my professional life, I've worked to with local governments on land use, taxation, and infrastructure issues.

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

This is the most fundamental job of any government—the prudent stewardship of public funds. Herndon residents have among the highest tax burdens in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Council has a duty to deliver value and relentlessly search for efficiencies. Especially during this time of economic uncertainty, we must honor the public's trust through fiscal restraint and budget discipline.

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

No.