Vienna Voters Re-Elect Springsteen, Vote in Two Newcomers to Town Council

Vienna residents elected three candidates concerned about the scale of new developments planned for Maple Avenue to the Town Council.

Yesterday’s election saw six candidates — two incumbents face off against four challengers — vie for three council seats.

According to a press release, the unofficial results of the election are:

• Nisha Patel: 1,523
• Howard Springsteen: 1,475
• Steve Potter: 1,470
• Julie Hays: 985
• Tara Bloch: 775
• Time Strike: 415

Incumbent Howard Springsteen has been a leading voice in opposition to new larger Maple Avenue developments, saying that the town’s commercial zones need managed growth with low-density residential zoning and modest, appropriate developments.

Local small business owner Nisha Patel has expressed concerns about the impact of high-density mixed-use developments on traffic and schools. Steve Potter is a founding member of the Vienna Citizens for Responsible Development, a group that has pushed for developments that preserve the “small-town character” on Maple Avenue.

Patel, Potter and Springsteen were all endorsed by the Vienna Citizens for Responsible Development.

Incumbent Tara Bloch, who had the second to the lowest number of votes, did not win reelection. Bloch touted the increased number of sidewalks and bike routes, as well as new commercial redevelopments, and she ran a campaign focused on pushing for a pedestrian-friendly business corridor.

Julie Hays, who ran a campaign focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety and protecting residential neighborhoods, and Tim Strike, who expressed opposition to the medium-high density developments and supported more public parking, also lost.

Vienna residents cast a total of 2,411 ballots, according to the press release.

Photos [1, 2, 3] in collage via Facebook