The Observer Newspapers |Current Council Has Done Well

April 17, 2008

Current Council Has Done Well

To the editor:

We would like to commend the current Herndon Town Council members for their outstanding service to this community over the past two years. When we moved to Herndon in 1979, we were impressed with the town and how effective the governmental services were. The police department, sanitation and infrastructure as overseen and managed by the Herndon Town Council were exemplary.

Throughout the years, the council remained on a high plane with the guidance of Mayor Tom Rust while keeping the interests of all (and only) Herndon citizens as their primary objective. As he left for higher politics, it seemed that the town was increasingly influenced by special interest groups, culminating in the council deciding to allow influence of non-citizens to dominate their decisions without officially weighing the desires of only the citizens of Herndon. It seemed the council deemed we did not know what was best for us.

This current council has rectified that. Under the leadership of Mayor Steve DeBenedittis and Vice Mayor Dennis Husch, the council has been open and transparent with their decisions reflecting a conscious effort to include desires of Herndon residents. Keeping in mind the citizen's professed goal of maintaining a small-town atmosphere, the council's almost unanimous and coordinated support of addressing challenges has fostered a progressive vision for the bright future of Herndon. As a part of their actions, they have quietly taken Herndon out of the contentious limelight of the illegal immigration uproar while not compromising the values that elected them. There may be those that take issue with this being a positive note, but we believe that immigration is not so much about getting to America, but more importantly about becoming an American by obeying in the rule of law and assimilating into the traditional society that built this country.

Of significant note, during the current administration, the crime rate has been significantly reduced (particularly from illegal aliens as the town no longer is a magnet for them), the town's municipal management is much improved and effective strategic planning is engendered in each of the town's municipal elements, and Herndon works better with surrounding communities and governments while maintaining our unique identity.

This Town Council has worked to its maximum capacity and demonstrated the will for action and getting the town's business accomplished, as opposed to talking it to death. They have listened to the residents and put energy and action to satisfying the desires of Herndon residents. Based on this they have developed a collective vision for the positive future of Herndon. We thank them for that.

Dudley and Marie Caswell

Herndon