Meet The Candidate: Sheila A Olem For Herndon Mayor
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.
Sheila A Olem, 64, manages properties is currently Herndon's vice major. She is running against Roland Taylor to succeed Mayor Lisa Merkel, who has chosen not to seek reelection.
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
Sheila A Olem
Age (as of Election Day)
64
Town/City of Residence
Herndon
Office Sought
Mayor Town of Herndon
Party Affiliation
This is a nonpartisan Election
Family
Sons Michael and Matthew, married to the late Harvey Olem, my 92 year old Mom, Gracie Milstead is well in Alabama and would be here if not for COVID.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No
Education
MS Public Health Administration, University of Memphis; BS Education, University of North Alabama.
Occupation
Own and manage properties 1983 - present; Insurance Sales 2001 - present;
Campaign website
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
Currently Vice Mayor, elected since 2010; Please see my website for other appointments I have had since 2001.
The single most pressing issue facing our town is COVID, and this is what I intend to do about it.
At the moment and until a cure or vaccine is found, our goal has to be the health and safety of our citizens and staff. As elected officials we legislate, and we are extremely fortunate to to have professional, dedicated staff taking care of the day to day business of running our town, including helping our businesses adjust to the new norms, keeping our trash picked up, managing our current projects and keeping our town safe. Our management team has done an excellent job in the last several years keeping our finances in order so our core services have been able to continue during this time of uncertainty.
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 am incredibly happy to live in a town where Black Lives Do Matter. Our own Darryl Smith was the first Black officer hired in Herndon in 1973 and after a career of 32 years and being the catalyst for community policing in the town, he ran for council and served as our Vice Mayor and the first person of color to ever serve on the Herndon Council in 2004. And yes I do support BLM.
What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?
Not something I want to see in our town. Our Herndon Police have be practicing many of the things that are now being recommended, such community policing, using body cameras, which Herndon has had for several years and we also earn national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). We are the example of Good Policing.
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?
I admit it, I have a degree in public health and take the pandemic very seriously. I totally support Virginia's response to limiting some operations, as well as the state helping businesses by relaxing some of the ABC laws so restaurants could try to save their businesses with carry out and outdoor seating.
What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Experience. My experience includes working on various committees on land use in Herndon and Fairfax County. Volunteering on these committees and the professional friendships I have made over the years has given me wealth of education on how our town and county work.
Appointed positions include: Herndon’s Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) 2000 - 07, Dranesville District land use committees, including the Dulles Toll Road Task Force (2000-01) and the Hunter Mill Task Force (2005).
During the past ten years on town council my service has included the following Herndon committees as a council member: Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee, Interview Committee, and the Joint Communications Committee between the council and the Planning Commission, the Phase II (Metro) District Commission, the Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA), the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and currently represents the town on the Committee for Dulles. All this has given me a prospective of the role Herndon plays in the greater Northern Virginia Region. Working together our Region can better serve all the citizens of Northern Virginia.
If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)
Currently Vice Mayor, the current Mayor is not seeking re-election.
Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform
Working on our 2035 Vision; this is what makes Herndon the place I call home.
Cultivating our Sustainable Environment; Honoring our people; Celebrating our community; Enriching our lives with Arts & Entertainment; Championing our Business & Technology.
You can find the 2035 on the town website, Search 2035 Vision or email me and I'll send you the link.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Raising two sons, ages 2 and 10, alone since 1994 that are now college graduates, own their homes and we are a close family, is a wonderful accomplishment. I ended up alone when my husband disappeared in Bolivia in 1994. It took about two years to take care of all the legal obstacles which included getting the law changed in Virginia so I could move forward. If you make a plan and work your plan you can get things done. I do the same in my work and as a volunteer for the town.
If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?
Not much happens over night in a Municipality. The New Herndon Fire Station took seven years and was a success because of our partnership with Fairfax County and we had the majority of council in favor of the project. (completed in 2017) Over the next two years a success will be keeping our current management team and attracting new professional staff to our team. We have a lot on our plate with the arrival of Metro and the Downtown redevelopment ground breaking, which have both been in the plans for over 30 years. Prior to being elected to council I was attending meetings in the 1990's - 2010 when Metro and several downtown redevelopments were being discussed.
Why should voters trust you?
This is a volunteer position, and I'm in it for the community. Many citizens know me from my various contributions in the town from my neighbors, school PTA's, local non-profits, and serving the town. (please see my website) My youngest graduated from Herndon High in 2010, yet when there are school issues, this Herndon citizen still reaches out to school board members to make sure Herndon voices heard. The same for any land planning that will directly affect our community such as the Metro and Dulles Airport. I'm here to work for the town.
What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?
The town has a AAA rating; our services, that citizens have grown to expect, are carried out in a professional, caring, cost effective manor; we feel safe and enjoy a very clean well kept town. Our staff saves the town taxpayers millions of dollars by careful planning and seeking grants to pay for sidewalks, storm water improvements, relocation of utility poles etc. If you take a drive down Van Buren, between the Herndon Parkway and Spring St, you can see one of those projects in progress. If this project was completed twenty years ago, the town would have paid the whole bill, now we're paying about 20% of the total and it's getting done right on time, the Metro should arrive in 2021.
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:
Ask for forgiveness.
What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I believe in our 2035 Vision. These goals are supported by the many non-profits and volunteers we have in Herndon and the surrounding area. Non-profits that put on events like Friday Night Live; NatureFest; Wine and Jazz Festival; Rotary Car Show; Volunteers that show up for all of the above and the Home Coming Parade; Herndon Festival; Holiday Homes Tour; Model Train Display etc.
In the year 2035, Herndon is an innovative town where history and heritage are respected and where people and their involvement matter. Herndon’s inclusiveness and sense of community foster empowerment in each resident. Its unique character and charm attract and nurture a wide variety of people and businesses. Herndon is the heart of an expanded community where arts and entertainment enrich the quality of life and bring people together. Our environmental stewardship assures Herndon’s future as a healthy and sustainable town.
This article originally appeared on the Herndon Patch
