Penny S. Halpern
Office Sought: Herndon Town Council
Age: 63
Residence: Herndon.
Education: BS, speech pathology and audiology, Ithaca College; course work in special education, New York Univ., Penn State.
Occupation: Proposal specialist, ePlus Inc.
Web site:http://www.pennyhalpern.com
E-mail address: pennyforcouncil@live.com
Offices and positions held: Member, Girl Scouts (35 years); Herndon Girl Scouts troop leader (28 years); trainer, adult Girl Scout leaders; fund-raising specialist, Girl Scouts; chair, Girl Scout Gold Award panel; manager, Girl Scout Service Unit; director, Girl Scout Core Camps; docent, Herndon Homes Tour.
What is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
Herndon needs purposeful downtown development. Our town is almost 130 years old, and some areas are in need of revitalization and renewal. However, without a planned approach we could be faced with a hodgepodge of designs and styles. We need to clearly define and convey our plans to interested developers for downtown revitalization and improvement. Additionally, citizen input is necessary in order to go forward and make the downtown area a destination and not just a pass-through.
Why should voters elect you?
I want to ensure that Herndon maintains its hometown character as it moves forward, and that it remains a welcoming town for all to enjoy.
What steps, if any, should your county take to mitigate the affects of a slowing economy?
Fairfax County is an affluent county but we are now facing a downturn in economy, especially in the housing market. We need to devise creative solutions that will allow the county to recover.
What is your position on illegal immigration and the affect it has had on your county?
Our country was founded by immigrants, legal as well as "illegal". Our diversity is our biggest strength.
In March, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled the transportation package passed by lawmakers last year unconstitutional, endangering major projects across the region. What steps, if any, should the county, region and state take to address funding issues for transportation projects?
For years Herndon has been looking forward to Metro coming out to the airport. We need to be proactive to ensure that this dream does not die.
-- The Washington Post | Submit a correction request.
