The Observer Newspapers | Town Elections 2008

May 6, 2008

Incumbents Re-Elected

Downer Selected for Remaining Council Seat

By Rebecca Plevin

Observer Staff Writer

Herndon voters returned Mayor Steve DeBenedittis and the five incumbent Town Council members to office Tuesday and selected Richard Downer to fill the open position on the council. The election drew 2,500 voters, roughly 24 percent of the town's registered voters.

View the detailed voting numbers here.
DeBenedittis received 1,313 votes to defeat challengers Harlon Reece and Jasbinder Singh. Reece received 940 votes and Singh had 250 votes. This will be the second term as mayor for DeBenedittis, who is also the chairman of the Town Association of Northern Virginia and the Virginia Coalition on Illegal Aliens.

DeBenedittis said he was humbled that "the voters placed trust in me again," and that he would work hard to make sure that their trust was not misplaced. He thanked his opponents for running a good race and said he looked forward to working with Richard Downer and the re-elected council.

Reece said he was disappointed at the outcome of the race, but was grateful to his supporters. "It's still the town that I love and I will still work to make it a special place to live, work and visit," he said. While his service on Town Council may be over, Reece said there are "still ways that I can serve the community."

Downer received 1,245 votes and filled the seat vacated by Reece. Downer, who has lived or worked in Herndon since age 11, served on the Town Council from 1971 to 1974 and 1990 to 2000, and on the Architectural Review Board from 1972 to 1985.

At JJ Deli Tuesday night, Downer said he would try to carry "the flickering flame" that Reece carried for the past two years on council. "Hopefully we can broaden the approach the town takes on the numerous challenges the town is facing," he said.

Connie Hutchinson received 1,468 votes, the highest number of votes for all council members. Following tradition, the candidate with the highest number of votes is selected as vice mayor for the upcoming term. Hutchinson said while not all voters agreed with her politics, "they thought I had Herndon at least in my best interest." Hutchinson, the executive director of the Herndon Dulles Visitor's Center and a resident of about 46 years, has served four terms on the council. She ran for mayor in 2004.

Bill Tirrell received the second highest number of votes with 1,374. This will be Tirrell's seventh term on the Town Council. Tirrell, a town resident of about 30 years, also served on the Planning Commission from 1988 to 1990 and 2002 to 2006 and was a candidate for mayor in 2002 and 2004.

With 1,279 votes, Dave Kirby was elected to a second term on council. Kirby, who has lived in Herndon for about 22 years, is in his third year as commander of the Wayne M. Kidwell American Legion Post 184.

Also chosen to serve a second term was Charlie Waddell, who received 1,265 votes. Waddell, a 13-year town resident, has been the president of the Dumbarton Square Homeowner's Association for 12 years and president of the Herndon Community Association Coalition for about six years.

Dennis Husch, who served as vice mayor for the 2006-2008 term, received 1,237 votes. Husch, who has lived in Herndon for about 25 years, has been a member of the Town Council for 14 years. He said he was not disappointed that he would not serve as vice mayor for the upcoming term. At the end of the day, he said, each council member only has one vote.