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Pradip Dhakal for Herndon Mayor

Endorsed By Congressman Connolly

Pradip Dhakal for Herndon Mayor Endorsed By Congressman ConnollyPradip Dhakal for Herndon Mayor Endorsed By Congressman ConnollyPradip Dhakal for Herndon Mayor Endorsed By Congressman Connolly
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Key Accomplishments and Initiatives

Key Accomplishments and Future Agenda: What I’ve Achieved and Will Champion as Your Next Mayor. Please watch! 

Final Call

 

Herndon Friends and Neighbors,

We’ve worked tirelessly to connect with each of you, knocking on doors and engaging in meaningful conversations through various channels. Now, it’s your chance to elect a Mayor who is dedicated to being accessible, listening to your concerns, and championing initiatives that benefit all of Herndon. I am committed to leading with integrity, ensuring actions that positively impact not just your lives today but also Herndon’s future for generations to come.

Please come out and cast your vote on Election Day. I have always honored my promises and will continue to do everything in my power to serve everyone in Herndon with dedication and passion.

𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫– let’s build a stronger, brighter future together.

Addressing some negative campaining going around

There have been misleading campaigns targeting us through social media, direct mail, and newspaper articles and opinions that include misinformation, misleading statements, and unrelated facts. We believe it is important to address these issues directly. This video will debunk and clarify each of these points, one by one. 

Pradip's introduction

Pradip Dhakal Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Herndon


My name is Pradip Dhakal, and I am currently serving my third term as a member of the Herndon Town Council, having proudly represented our Herndon community since January 2019. I immigrated from Nepal and have called Herndon my home since 2012. My wife, a proud graduate of Herndon High School, and I have three wonderful children—two boys, ages 8 and 6, who attend elementary school here in Herndon, and a young daughter. We fell in love with Herndon’s small-town charm, its diversity, and its rich history, and decided to make this town our home. It’s been an incredible journey serving on the Town Council, and now, I am running for Mayor to continue giving back to this wonderful community that has welcomed us with open arms.  


It's crucial for Herndon to have leadership that mirrors demography of our community, ensuring inclusivity and representation for all.  Herndon deserves a leader who can collaborate with everyone, foster open discussions of new ideas, and introduce initiatives to propel our town forward. I am committed to working tirelessly to make Herndon an even better place for all our residents. I am eager to bring my experience to the role.  Having served on the town council for three consecutive terms, and having always thoughtfully built consensus, I am equipped to efficiently lead the town.  My decision to run for Mayor has been fueled by encouragement from the Herndon community. I also have the majority support from the current town council. 
 


Accomplishments and Vision for Herndon:


During my time on the Council, I’ve focused on fostering a more inclusive and forward-thinking Herndon. One of my proudest accomplishments is the creation of the Herndon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The committee’s purpose is to bring people together, create a sense of belonging, and advise the council on policies, programs, and events that promote inclusion.


In my first term, I also advocated for a business incubator and accelerator to help aspiring entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses right here in town. I’m proud to say that this idea became a reality, and today, Herndon is home to the Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Mason Enterprise Center, offering vital support to local startups.


Affordable and workforce housing has also been a priority of mine. I worked diligently to bring Trellis to Herndon, which converted a former Marriott hotel into housing units, with over 50% designated for workforce housing. I am currently working on a Comprehensive Plan amendment and a housing ordinance to ensure that affordable housing continues to be a priority for our town.


I’m also passionate about helping the next generation of leaders. As part of the Herndon Advisory Committee for the Harraseeket Foundation, I recently helped launch the "Imagine Your Future" project, which provides one-on-one mentoring, internships, and career guidance to Herndon High School seniors.


Endorsements and Community Support:


I am proud to have received the endorsement of the Fairfax County Democrats following our August caucus, in which 606 residents voted. I am also honored to have the support of the following leaders


- Congressman Gerry Connolly,

- U.S. Senator Mark Warner,

- Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia (DAAV),

- Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman,

- Virginia State Senators Suhas Subramanyam, Stella Pekarsky, Saddam Salim, and Ghazala Hashmi,

- Virginia State Delegates Irene Shin, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Kannan Srinivasan, and Sam Rasoul,

- Fairfax County School Board members-at-large Kyle McDaniel and Ryan McElveen,

- Commonwealth Attorney of Fairfax Steve Descano,

- Former Mayor of Herndon Mike O'Reilly,

- Herndon Town Councilmembers Danielle Scherff, Cesar del Aguila, and Naila Alam,

- Former Councilmember Sean Regan,

- Many more neighbors, town residents, and community leaders.


These endorsements represent a strong partnership between Herndon and leaders at the county, state, and federal levels, ensuring that our town has the resources it needs to thrive.


A Commitment to Our Community:


Throughout my six years of service, I’ve always shown up for our town. I’ve attended more than 90% of our council meetings, even during personal or family emergencies, because I believe in the responsibility that comes with public service. 


Herndon is a vibrant, diverse town, and one of our signature events, Friday Night Live, is a testament to that. I am committed to preserving and expanding such events that bring our community together, making everyone feel welcomed and valued.


As we move forward, I want to appeal to everyone in Herndon to stay informed and focused on facts, not the baseless rumors that often circulate on social media. Let’s continue building a town that thrives on unity, diversity, and shared values.


Thank you for your continued support.


— Pradip Dhakal

Candidate for Mayor of Herndon

Agenda

Strong and Committed Leadership

Herndon needs strong leadership that is open to discussing new ideas and committed to proactively seeking solutions. This leadership should not hesitate to challenge old and outdated thoughts, processes, codes, and norms while actively seeking ways to improve. Herndon requires leadership that supports transparency, keeps residents informed, and seeks relentless improvement in service delivery to constituents. The town deserves leadership that listens to and serves all residents, not just the interests of a few individuals or groups. We need leadership that focuses on core town issues, not personal interests or issues. We need to work to build consensus across the community to progress amidst anticipated transit-related growth, downtown development, and diversified events, all while preserving the town's essence. This is exactly what I commit to do as your next Mayor.

As a current councilmember, I have been constantly advocating for affordable/workforce housing, initiatives that foster inclusion and belongings, ADA compliant sidewalks and trails, traffic calming initiatives, issues of cut-through traffic, helping small businesses, and entrepreneurship building, etc.

 I am committed to being a Mayor who is intentional and dedicated to addressing these issues through collaboration with the council, town staff, and our regional partners. 

Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety

  

 As the population grows, concern about traffic speed, parking, and pedestrian safety in our residential streets is also increasing. I have been a proponent and the supporter of Traffic Calming initiatives. What Herndon truly needs are effective traffic calming solutions, which could include:

 

  • Clearly marked crosswalks or raised crosswalks
  • Stop signs 
  • Speed limits reduction as appropriate
  • Policies to change drivers' behavior 
  • Enhancements to walkability, bikeability, and public transportation accessibility 
  • Increased enforcement for speed limit compliance.

 My commitment is to identify and implement these traffic calming solutions to reduce vehicular and pedestrian accidents and minimize their impacts. 

Overall Community Safety

   I am committed to enhancing overall safety and security within our town. This involves enhancing community policing initiatives, improving visibility and lighting in public areas, supporting more Neighborhood Watch programs that involve residents working together with law enforcement agencies to identify and report suspicious activities, enhancing home security measures, fostering a sense of community cohesion, and establishing a community safety task force within the town. This task force will identify safety concerns, develop action plans, and implement solutions tailored to the specific needs of the neighborhoods, including adding surveillance cameras in some public areas if appropriate. 

Affordable and Workforce Housing

I have been a strong advocate for affordable and workforce housing, focusing on dedicated units (ADUs and WDUs) for essential service providers such as police, teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, and retail employees. Their work is vital to our community, and ensuring they have access to affordable housing is critical. My plan involves updating the Comprehensive Plan to reflect this vision, adopting a dedicated housing policy, and signing an MOU with Fairfax County to administer the program. I propose securing 20% ADU/WDU in the Herndon Transit-Oriented Core (HTOC) area, 15% in Transit Related Growth (TRG) area, and 12% elsewhere. I will also work with the council to partner with the county and developers to bring dedicated projects to the town. This requires a leadership with vision and right intention to push this forward. 

Fostering inclusion and belongings

I am proud to announce that I presented an initiative and with the help of the previous council, we have established Herndon Diversity, Equity an Inclusion Committee (HDEIC) as an advisory committee to the town council. As a Chair of HDEIC, I commit actively advancing inclusive initiatives to foster diverse representation in the council, boards and commission and even in the town’s other leadership positions.  This also includes multicultural engagements by supporting and bringing vibrant events and programs tailored to our town's diverse population. 

I am an avid supporter of Friday Night Live, Planner/Supporter/Sponsor of Juneteenth, Supporter of Herndon Pride Festival, Supporter of the Herndon Festival, Supporter and planner of upcoming Multi-cultural festival, Initiator, Planner and Supporter of the very first pickleball tournament in the town, supporter of the charity golf tournament with Stars and Stripes NoVA Committee, supporter of recently held Que Pasa? Herndon and many other events. 

Relevant updates on ordinances and guidelines

This is work in progress and needs continuity. There are many guidelines, ordinances and regulations in the town which are less relevant than when they were initially adopted. It’s time to conduct independent studies and surveys to find out how these guidelines and ordinances can be updated or amended to better serve the current needs. This includes zoning ordinances, HDRB guidelines, parking guidelines, processes for doing business in the town, and many others.

We updated the HDRB guidelines that had not been updated over 30 years,  amended and enacted chapter 42 related to Motor Vehicles and traffic, about parking on town streets, amended Chapter 78 (Zoning) to eliminate Special Exceptions requirement for internal or attached and detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Single Family Structures. This work needs continuity. 

Growth and development

 With the introduction of the Silver Line Metro, the developments within the Herndon Transit-Oriented Core (HTOC) and Transit-Related Growth (TRG) area present both significant opportunities and formidable challenges. The way in which we shape and foster growth in this area directly influences its long-term fiscal viability and sustainability. By attracting businesses and employers, offering a range of housing options to residents, and consequently bolstering revenue for the town, we can reinvest in the community to enrich the quality of life through various services. Additionally, economic growth can be stimulated by revamping Herndon's image through rebranding and marketing efforts aimed at attracting new sources of revenue for the town. 


The Herndon Downtown Redevelopment Project has experienced multiple extensions due to factors such as appeals, the pandemic, rising costs, and interest rates. However, the primary challenge has been the contract, which lacks leverage for the town. My focus is to work towards a viable solution that benefits both the town and the developer, ensuring that this project moves forward while safeguarding the town’s interests and maximizing its benefits. I am committed to ensuring that the long-awaited and envisioned redevelopment of downtown Herndon comes to fruition in a timely manner, aligning with the town’s goals and aspirations for a vibrant, revitalized downtown space.


Achieving these goals necessitates leadership that collaborates with developers, the community, the business community, neighboring jurisdictions, and all stakeholders to ensure our stake in it is well-preserved. 

Walkable-Bikeable Herndon

We’ve updated the master plan to add more sidewalks, making sidewalks ADA compliant and encouraging walkability and bikability. Connecting the town to the Silverline

through walking and biking lanes is my priority.

Endorsements

I am very grateful to be trusted and endorsed by our own town residents, town and regional elected officials and many other community leaders. And, this trust is earned through dedication, vision and results we've deliverd over the past 5 years as a town councilman. Clik below to learn who've endorsed us for Herndon Mayor. 

Find out more

Leadership Positions, Education, and Experience

Herndon Town Council Member (2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2023-Present)

Chair at Herndon Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (HDEIC) (2022-Present)  responsible for leading the committee's efforts to promote and foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community in Herndon. I work with the committee members and other stakeholders to identify and address issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the town. 

Member of "Herndon Advisory Committee" of " The Harraseeket Foundation". We are bringing a pilot program, “Imagining Your Future,” which is set to soft launch for Herndon High School students by early June 2024 and with a major kickoff event scheduled for late August, 2024.  This program aims to engage students and provide them with the resources and guidance they need to succeed. This includes those who may not follow a traditional academic path, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to explore their potential and prepare for their future. 

Fairfax County Economic Advisory Commission-Town of Herndon Representative (2021-Present):  Offering policy-level recommendations concerning the development and growth of the county's economy and ensuring town of Herndon's need is represented .

Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA)-Board of Director (2021-2022)):  Worked with other members of the board to develop policies and plans for the provision of high-quality transportation services. I’ve also helped to ensure that the transportation-related services provided by the agency meet the needs of the community while being financially sustainable. 

Member of "Alignment Team" of Fairfax County Public Schools to create Strategic Plan for 2023-30.

Nepali American Community Center (NACC)-Interim Executive Committee Member (2019-2021):  Collaborated with the community to raise nearly $2 million to construct a community center in Northern Virginia, dedicated to promoting culture, language, and providing community-based services. 

Inter-Jurisdictional Committee of Loudoun and Fairfax-Former Member: Fairfax and Loudoun Counties as needed on inter-jurisdictional matters. 

Education: Master of Science in Strategic Leadership

Bachelors in Microbiology

 

The organizations Pradip has served through various roles: Capital One, Freddie Mac, Maximus (for CMS and IRS), Navy Federal etc. 

Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), Scaled Agile Advanced Scrum Master (SASM), SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE), SAFe Practitioner, Professional Scrum Master (PSM) etc.

Contribute

Your donation will help us reach out to more residents through different means. Please donate so that we can reach out to more people, share our ideas and solicit their ideas and recommendations. 


Your donation can be made using zelle. This way there will be no transaction fee. Please use the email below for zelle. pradip4herndon@gmail.com

Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

Photo Gallery (In and Around Herndon)

    Pradip for Herndon Mayor Campaign Kickoff - 05/18/2024

      Paid for by Pradip for Herndon Mayor

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