Mayor Kristen Umstattd Announces Re-Election Bid

Leesburg Mayor Kirsten C. Umstattd will try for a sixth term as the leader of the town council. She announced her bid for re-election on June 3 before a gathering of about 30 supporters at the .

A member of the council since 1992 – and Mayor for the past 10 years – Umstattd said that she “couldn’t be happier” with the council as it is presently constituted.

“For the last five years, the town council has done a superlative job of keeping our taxes low while completing some expensive public projects,” she said.

She cited as examples the completion of Battlefield Parkway from Ft. Evans to Edwards Ferry roads, the South King Street trail to Governors Drive, and storm drainage projects in Leesburg Country Club and the neighborhood of Wage Drive and Anne Street.

She emphasized the importance of keeping taxes and water bills low in view of the slow economy, which she said is finally showing signs of improvement.

Umstattd credited the town council and staff with reducing red tape and making the town more “business-friendly.”

“We need to make sure that people have a shot at having a successful business in the town,” she said.

She also said that she places a high priority on making citizens feel welcome to comment at council meetings.

“You need to know that when you come up to speak at a council meeting…you are the most important person in the room, because we need to listen to what you have to say,” she said.

Umstattd is the first announced candidate for mayor in this year’s election, which will be held in November.