Vienna Town Council Candidate: Carey Sienicki

This time two years ago, Carey Sienicki was the new face in the Vienna Town Council Race.

But this time around, she's found her footing and is eager to move forward, she says.

"I've learned a lot about the process," Sienicki said.

Sienicki, who joined council after serving on the planning commission, hit the ground running after her election in May 2011 to help see the Lewis and West street drainage projects come to fruition, after a decade of flooding had plagued residents in the area.

"That made a big impact in the Northwest section of town, and getting to know those neighborhoods and making those connections were important," she said.

Sienicki said she's also proud of the progress the town has made in sidewalk improvement, some of which was thanks to grant money through programs like the Walk to Downtown Initiative.

"There's high demand. People really want to walk around to where they're going — it's important to them."

Sidewalks will be especially important as the town moves forward with the Maple Avenue Vision, a revitalization that will allow for more businesses and mixed use development along Vienna’s main corridor.

"With the Silver Line going in and development around the Orange Line, it just makes sense now to continue with that vision," she said. "It's making sure Vienna stays current. Vienna has had so much of what people look for in a town all the time. It's making sure it's a walkable city accessible to everyone."

Also important is other transportation infrastructure, like bus routes. Sienicki said she hopes to help the town look into more mid-day routes for residents.

Sienicki, an architect, said "the vision will put new ideas in zoning out there. We're starting to see what potential it has. This is going to be a very positive change."

She envisions an area with retail space along with other mixed uses, like condos for retired residents who don't want to maintain their properties any more, or younger folks who aren't ready to buy a home.

It's also important the town makes sure it is an environment in which businesses want to move and grow.

"The town has to help small businesses thrive. We have to be cognizant of what goes on with small business and all business to make sure people can get access them and that they do well," Sienicki said.

Sienicki said the Vienna Business Association, of which she is a member, will be important in building better relationships with businesses as the community navigates some of these changes.

Among the next two years' biggest budget implication: The town's takeover of some stormwater management initiatives that until now had been managed by the state, something Sienicki says will mean "sweeping changes."

While they are changes for the good, it also means more fees and budget responsibilities going forward.

Sienicki says the town has been working the changes into the budget to get ahead of it. But "When it fully comes into play it's a big issue for the town to deal with," she said.

What she enjoys most, though, is getting to work so closely with the residents she serves.

"What I like about Vienna is how approachable I can be [as a town council member] — I'm happy people come up to me to tell me what's going on and how the town can help them."

Read about all candidates here.