Sheila A. Olem
Office Sought: Herndon Town Council
Age: 54
Residence: Herndon Woods.
Education: MS, health administration, University of Memphis; BS, education, University of North Alabama.
Occupation: Sales associate, Aflac (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus), 2001-present.
Web site:http://SheilaOlemForCouncil.com
E-mail address: SheilaOlem@Yahoo.com
Offices and positions held: Past vice chair, Herndon Board of Zoning Appeals; treasurer, Council for the Arts of Herndon; board of directors, Friends of Runnymede Park; Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce; Herndon Rotary Club; Herndon Cultivating Community Committee; Herndon Garden Tour Committee; Herndon High School Sports Booster; Herndon High School PTA; Hunter Mill Task Force, 2005; Dulles Toll Road Task Force, 2000: past president, FWQA.
What is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
Rather than focus on problems, I prefer to focus on possibilities. The development of an active, vibrant, pedestrian-oriented downtown is crucial to our town's fiscal health. New development should blend in with our current structures and should bring new life into the downtown year-round. The added tax revenue will reduce our dependence on residential real estate taxes.
Why should voters elect you?
I know how to get things done. I have worked with citizens and elected officials at all levels for years.
What steps, if any, should your county take to mitigate the affects of a slowing economy?
Rather than look to eliminate services, I would suggest that we look for opportunities to streamline procedures and eliminate waste.
What is your position on illegal immigration and the affect it has had on your county?
At the town level we are limited in our actions. Overcrowding is one of the signs of illegal immigrations in neighborhoods. We have made progress over the past four years and must stay the course.
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?
This is not a Town issue. However, I would support a modest increase in the gasoline tax to fund our much-needed transportation improvements. Using abuser fees to fund road improvements was never a good idea.
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