The Town of Herndon announced the qualified candidate list for Herndon Mayor and Town Council for the Nov. 6, 2018 election.

Lisa C. Merkel is running uncontested for Mayor. Ten candidates are vying for the six town councilmember seats. The five incumbents on the six-member town council, Jennifer K. Baker, Grace Wolf Cunningham, Signe V. Friedrichs, William “Bill” J. McKenna and Sheila A. Olem will face off against five challengers, Cesar A. Del Aguila, Pradip Dhakal, Joseph T. “Joe” Plummer, and Roland Taylor.

Herndon's town council consists of six council members and a mayor, who are elected for two-year terms. Herndon Mayor and Town Council are elected in even-number years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. There is one vacancy on the Council due to the death of Town Councilmember Jeff Davidson in late March. It has not been filled for the unexpired portion of the term by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Council.

Although the charter for the Town of Herndon, relating to elections, states candidates for town offices cannot be identified on the ballot by political affiliation, some individuals applied to the Dranesville District Democratic Committee (DDDC) seeking endorsement for Herndon Mayor and Town Council Elections 2018.

These candidates submitted the required questionnaire, application and application fee by the May 10, 2018 deadline (alphabetical by last name): Mayor-Lisa C. Merkel; Town Council Cesar A. Del Aquila, Jennifer K. Baker, Signe Friedrichs, William “Bill” J. McKenna, Sheila A. Olem, Joseph T. “Joe” Plummer, and Grace Wolf Cunningham.

According to the DDDC, their endorsement recommendation vote will take place at the June 21 DDDC meeting at Herndon Middle School. The top six candidates for Town Council will receive the DDDC recommendation. The top candidate for Mayor will receive the DDDC recommendation. DDDC will refer their endorsement recommendation to FCDC to be voted on at the July 17th FCDC meeting. The actual endorsement is given by FCDC subject to the vote on July 17, 2018.

Profiles of the candidates will be available before the elections.