Q&A with Herndon's New Mayor, Lisa Merkel

Herndon Patch is welcoming Herndon's new Mayor and Town Council members with Q&A's. The new council was sworn in Thursday evening at the Herndon Municipal Center. Their term will start on July 1, 2012 and end in June 2014. 

• Give us a little summary of your background—organizations you've been involved with, previous service to the community, information about your career and time in Herndon.   

Lisa Merkel has been a resident of Herndon since 2002 and was sworn in as Mayor of the Town of Herndon on Thursday. She served as the town’s Vice Mayor during the 2010-2012 Town Council term and played an active role in Herndon’s brand advisory committee, a group tasked with developing a brand to market Herndon as a location for businesses, residents and visitors.

Prior to her service on the Town Council, Merkel participated in the Citizen’s Planning Academy and the Downtown Master Plan Citizens Advisory Group. She was appointed by Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust to represent the Town of Herndon on the Dranesville APR Task Force, a group that reviewed the proposed development surrounding the Route 28 Metro Site and its future impact on the town.

Merkel is a member of the Council for the Arts of Herndon; Herndon Historical Society; Sister Cities International; and the Herndon Homes Tour Committee.   
Merkel holds a BS in Education from Auburn University and an MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech. She and her husband, Dave, are raising their family in a circa 1895 farmhouse in Herndon’s historic downtown. 

• What made you want to run for council and serve the Town of Herndon and its residents?

When Dave and I moved to Herndon in 2002, we felt that Herndon had it all—a historic downtown with small-town charm, a close-knit community, and outstanding services and amenities—and the location couldn’t be beat!! I got involved in Herndon politics because I could see the potential for Herndon to become the most sought after place to live in the DC Metro area, and I wanted to be a part of moving Herndon forward. Our challenge lies in leveraging our rich heritage to influence the future of our great town.

• What issues are you most looking forward to addressing in Herndon during your term?  

Among my priorities for the next two years will be revitalizing our downtown, planning for metro’s arrival, and working to attract and retain successful, unique businesses throughout town.

Going forward, we must be predictable and show the development community that we are serious about bringing our vision for downtown from paper to reality.   

Metro will be the single-most significant economic driver in the Dulles corridor over the next 50 years, and it is critical that we embrace this opportunity.
The eventual redevelopment around Herndon’s station will attract world-class businesses to marquee spaces along the toll road—something we cannot currently offer.  

While managing the inevitable traffic changes that come with metro’s arrival, we will continue working to make Herndon a walkable, bikeable community.
I look forward to working closely with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, and the Chamber of Commerce to give Herndon a competitive edge in the region.  

Last fall, Herndon’s economic development task force issued a series of recommendations designed to secure Herndon’s business community as a regional, national and worldwide leader.  

We are already hard at work on the first recommendation of our task force: developing a branding strategy for the town of Herndon.  

Finally, public safety will remain a top priority. I will continue working to ensure that our community remains a safe place to do business and raise our families, and work with our police chief to expand and strengthen our Community Policing Program, giving residents access and opportunity to work closely with officers to proactively address any concerns that may arise.

• What do you love about Herndon that you think people who don't live in town should know? 

I moved to Herndon in 2002, because I felt that Herndon had it all—a historic downtown with small-town charm, a close-knit community, and outstanding services and amenities—and all within 30 minutes of both the Virginia countryside and Washington, D.C. My husband, Dave, and I felt there was no better place to start our family than in the heart of downtown Herndon.

People should be clamoring to live in the Town of Herndon! As a small, self-governed Town, we have the power to set the stage and define what it means to be a 21st century hometown.  

Within the four square miles of the Town, we have 11 parks, our own Community Center and golf course, a public library, and two Town greens for concerts and events. The W&OD trail runs directly through our downtown. We have an award-winning police force and a talented and dedicated Town staff, including a Department of Public Works that prides itself on the outstanding service it provides to our residents. Dulles International Airport is just 10 minutes away, and the Metrorail to Dulles is set to reach Herndon in 2016. 

Herndon is the gem of the Dulles Corridor, a small-town oasis in the midst of Northern Virginia sprawl. Whether you are starting your business, raising your family, or enjoying your retirement—Herndon has something for everyone.

Look for more 2012-2014 Herndon Town Council Q&As in the coming days. 

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