Letty Hardi Chosen As Mayor, Hiscott Named Vice Mayor By City Council

FALLS CHURCH, VA — A new mayor is stepping up in Falls Church after City Council selected its new leadership Monday.

Letty Hardi, the former vice mayor, was chosen as mayor, and Debbie Hiscott was chosen as vice mayor. Each received a 5-0 vote from City Council members, with Councilmember Erin Flynn voting present and David Snyder abstaining. The mayor and vice mayor serve two-year terms.

"It's an incredible honor to be able to serve the City that has been my home for over 20 years," said Hardi in a statement. "I thank my City Council colleagues and pledge to carry out the responsibilities as Mayor in the best City of Falls Church tradition of civility and respect. Our community members have high expectations for our government: for excellent City programs and services, and for doing the public’s business with transparency, accessibility, and accountability. We are all eager to get to work on behalf of this community that we love."

This is the first time since 2014 that Falls Church has a new mayor. Former Mayor David Tarter was picked for the position in 2014, then again in 2016, 2018 and 2022. Tarter did not seek re-election in 2023 along with former Councilmember Phil Duncan.

Falls Church voters elect at-large City Council members, but City Council is tasked with choosing its mayor and vice mayor. According to city code, the mayor presides over City Council meetings and is the head of city government for ceremonial purposes. The vice mayor steps in to perform mayoral duties when the mayor is not present. Both have the same voting power as other City Council members.

Hardi first joined City Council in 2016 and was elected as vice mayor in 2022. Hiscott was first elected to City Council in 2020 to fill a vacant seat after former Councilmember Dan Sze died.

The City Council has a majority of women in the new term, with Snyder remaining the only man. New members on City Council elected in 2023 are Flynn and Justine Underhill.

Along with voting on the mayor and vice mayor at Monday's meeting, City Council set rules and procedures, made appointments to commissions, boards and committees, and issued proclamations for Falls Church Day of Service on Jan. 15 and Mary Riley Styles Public Library's 125th Anniversary Celebration from January to December 2024.

The next meeting is a City Council work session on Tuesday, Jan. 16.