Vienna Town Council Candidates Reflect on 2013 Race

For the three candidates who earned another term on the the voter turnout — higher than the town has seen in four years — was affirmation residents are happy with the direction the town is heading, they told Patch hours after polls closed.

Laurie DiRocco, Carey Sienicki and Howard Springsteen were all elected to start another term July 1, defeating fellow candidate Ryan Thomas.

Read: Vienna Town Council Elections Results: Incumbents Keep Seats

"It's confirmation we're doing a good job," Sienicki told Patch. "Thanks to all Vienna voters for their confidence."

The election, which drew 1,017 voters to the polls in person or via absentee ballot, was the first contested election since 2011.

"It shows there was some competition — that forces folks out," Springsteen said.

DiRocco, who earned the most votes and noted she was grateful for support of friends, neighbors and other residents, said while the results indicated voters were more or less happy with the way things were going, "we always need to look at ways to improve," she said.

"I'm looking forward to continue listening and working for the town residents," she said.

DiRocco said the council's three incumbents ran on a nonpartisan basis — "and we work nonpartisan" too, she said.

The council is a nonpartisan body per code.

"I think it's a positive mesage that the town decides to embrace, and that was a good thing. It makes [those that serve] be community oriented versus party oriented," she said.

Being structured that way allows council members to focus on the best solution and different options, rather than feeling an obligation to a party, she said.

"I think it provides a much better functioning group of people," she said.

Being a newcomer to town and an outsider in the council race, Thomas said he was proud to return 440 votes — reflecting about 43 percent of voters chose him as one of their three candidates.

"I really enjoyed listening to people and getting to know their concerns and thoughts and how much they love and appreciate their town," Thomas said. "I wouldn't trade doing it again."

Thomas said he looked forward to being involved in "whatever ways I can" in the future, whether that's helping in the business community, on transportation safety issues or "just helping neighbors circulate petitions."

He declined to name specific plans, but said "I'll still be involved, and I still care just as much after the race as I did before it."

"I was able to get my name out, talk about issues and get exposure and I think that's all a campaign can really hope to do," he said. "It was a tremendously positive experience."

Among the things the incumbents said they looked forward to addressing: The Maple Ave Vision, the Church Street parking structure and the Community Center assessment, among other developments.

Springsteen said he would continue to take a fiscally conservative approach to the budget, and looked forward to helping bring about more infrastructure projects and street improvements.

"We keep Vienna a nice place to live," Springsteen said.