Though headlined by the Congressional midterms, this year’s election cycle will also feature critical local races in the Town of Herndon.
Douglas Isaac Mejia, a Herndon native and registered nurse, appears to be the first candidate to officially launch a bid for the Herndon Town Council, which will have all six seats on the ballot in November.
Announcing his candidacy on Tuesday (May 26), Mejia says he was inspired to run for office based on his experience growing up in the town, which left him with the impression of a disconnect between local leaders and many residents.
“The changes that I thought would happen haven’t happened,” he told FFXnow. “I want to make Herndon more representative of its population. I want to connect residents with resources and ensure Herndon has a voice for families.”
The bilingual son of immigrants, Mejia says his parents were able to carve out a home in Herndon, despite not being aware of many programs and services that could’ve helped them.
His mother would take him and his siblings to Runnymeade Park, for example, but she didn’t know what other recreational options were available. Information about schools for Spanish-speaking families was also limited.
As an adult, Mejia still sees a gap in the town’s efforts to reach out to its diverse population, about 40% of which was born outside the U.S. Though interpreters are available at council meetings, among other accommodations, the official town website and communications are still mostly presented in English.
“Going to where the residents are, which would be like laundromats, churches, or … HOAs, providing that voice, like I mentioned, is very important,” Mejia said. “In order to be that voice for everyone … that calls the Town of Herndon their home, you need to speak with them, right? You need to be there for them. You can’t expect them to come to you. You need to go out in the community.”
Inclusion concerns recently became a focal point in discussions about the Town of Herndon’s push to adopt an affordable housing policy. Immigrant advocates criticized a study that will inform an interim policy as inadequate in reflecting the needs of renters and working-class residents.
A renter himself, Mejia says he supports any efforts to combat rent-gouging and other initiatives that could help more residents afford to live in Herndon. He also wants to listen to homeowners to learn more about the issues they’re facing.
In addition to promoting resources available for residents, Mejia’s stated priorities are expanding opportunities for families, including by supporting small businesses, and making Herndon more affordable.
“I would love to see that our words are backed by our actions,” he said. “I want all of Herndon of course, including our families, to be cared for, just like how my patients from different backgrounds are cared for too. I want to create more opportunities.”
The elections for Herndon’s town council and mayor will be held on Nov. 3. Candidates have until June 16 at 7 p.m. to file for inclusion on the ballot.
