Herndon Councilmember Pradip Dhakal joins race for mayor

Another town council member has thrown his name in the mix in the race for Herndon mayor.

Councilmember Pradip Dhakal, who has served on the council for three consecutive terms, is running for the position. His colleague, Councilmember Keven LeBlanc, announced his intention to run earlier this week.

“Herndon deserves a leader who can collaborate with everyone, foster open discussions for new ideas, and introduce initiatives to propel our town forward,” Dhakal said. “I am committed to working tirelessly to make Herndon an even better place for all our residents.”

Dhakal says he has the “majority support from the current town council,” adding that he hopes to champion diversity if elected.

“It’s crucial for Herndon to have leadership that mirrors the diverse background and demography of our community, ensuring inclusivity and representation for all,” Dhakal said. “If elected, I will be the first-ever mayor of color from the town of Herndon and I believe that will be historic milestone for the town.”

His top priorities are increasing affordability and workforce housing, implementing traffic calming initaitives, and increasing overall safety and security in the town.

In his campaign announcement, LeBlanc included a statement of support from current mayor Sheila Olem, state Sen. Jennifer Boysko, Del. Irene Shin and former mayor Lisa Merkel. He said he would be the first person openly from the LGBTQ community to serve as Herndon’s mayor, if elected.