Town Council Election 2011: Morning At The Polls

Vienna residents who headed to the polls Tuesday morningsaid they were voting for candidates who would keep Vienna's small-town feel, address Tysons Corner issues head-on and take a hard look at how a growing budget affects taxpayers.

"The Town of Vienna needs help making decisions about Tysons and other things that are moving quickly," resident Terry Svat said. "I'm going to pick someone who can keep Vienna moving forward."

The ballot this year includes candidates Laurie DiRocco, Howard Springsteen, Carey Sienicki and Hamid Barahmand. To read more about each candidate,

Just two percent of the town's eligible residents had cast votes as of 10:30 a.m., according to a Fairfax County Election official.

Vienna's Town Council election has historically low turnout, which many residents attribute to the fact that the election occurs in May instead of November. The election official said only 5 to 10 percent of the town's registered voters typically turn out for the town's council elections.

But those who had cast votes Tuesday morning said they thought it was important to weigh in on the changes taking place: renewed business growth, growing friction between motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, and a traffic problem that many say they didn't think could get worse -- before it did.

" We need to keep our town's spirit," said Jane Skatzko. "It's what I like about Vienna -- the small town feel near the big city."

Some residents who came to vote were simply exercising their rights: In their mind, there were no "real issues"this year.

 "I came out to vote because it's the thing to do," one man said as he entered the polls. "But there are very few issues."

Resident Hank Lavery said he saw just one issue in this election: the budget.

"We need to cut it by 20, 30 percent. Stop wasting money and putting bricks all over the place," he said.

But any budget action shouldn't detract from what one man called one of Vienna's most unusual features: the wide array of community activities it sponsors, in addition to the  classes, courses and summer camps available to residents of all ages. Many towns responded to the recession by cutting those programs, but in Vienna, they have thrived, he said.

"Not every town does that. It's a great service to our community," he said.

Check Vienna Patch throughout the day for continuing updates at the polls.

For more information on each candidate, and to watch videos of them discussing town issues,