Candidate Profile: Howard Springsteen For Vienna Town Council

VIENNA, VA — Howard Springsteen, a Vienna Town Council member since 2009, is seeking re-election to Vienna Town Council in the Nov. 4, 2025 general election.

All six Vienna Town Council seats and mayor are up for election in 2025. Before 2023, Town Council seats had staggered two-year terms with elections in May.

There are seven candidates for six Vienna Town Council seats, and Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert is unopposed in her re-election bid.

Springsteen is running for Town Council along with incumbents Sandra Allen, Chuck Anderson, Roy Baldwin and Jessica Ramakis. Newcomers Doug Francis and Dann Nash are also running. Councilmember Ray Brill is not seeking re-election.

SEE ALSO: Vienna Town Council Forum Set Before November 2025 Election

In addition to the town elections, Town of Vienna voters will have Virginia governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and Virginia House of Delegates 12th District on the ballot. There are also Fairfax County public school bonds up for a voter referendum.

Early voting for the general election began on Friday, Sept. 19. More information on how to vote is available from the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

Patch asked candidates for Vienna Town Council to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Springsteen's responses:

Name

Howard J. Springsteen

Office Sought

Vienna Town Council

Campaign Website

SpringsteenforVienna on Facebook

Age (As of Nov. 4 election)

69

Education

Master's in Public Adminstration and Bachelor in Liberal Arts

Occupation

Logistics & Procurement Professional 38 years.

Family

My wife and I have lived in Vienna since 1997. We raised our two children here. Both are proud graduates of VA Tech. We are both former Peace Corps Volunteers. My wife served in the Congo and I served in Liberia.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife is a federal government retiree.

Previous public office positions or appointments

Town of Vienna Council member since 2009, Hunter Mill District Transportation Advisory Committee, Vienna Town Employee Pension Committee, Vienna Vice Mayor pro-tem (two one-year terms) and Vienna Safety Commission.

Why are you seeking this office?

I care greatly about Vienna and want to continue to insure Vienna is well run and is a great place to live and work.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

I am focused on the core responsibilites of the Town Council. My goals as a council member are to drive accountability, responsiveness and fiscal responsiblity. I have a reputation for getting things done! I approach town finances the way I approach my home finances -- what are our needs, what are our wants, and how do we account for long-term financial planning.

What do you see as the top issues facing your locality, and how do you address them in your campaign platform?

A constant challenge to governance is how do we balance the need to undertake necessary infrastructure improvements and provide high-quality services with fiscal responsiblity. We need to avoid overburdening our citizens and businesses. My record, common sense approach, community service and responsiveness to the Vienna community speaks to how I will approach decision-making going forward.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have had a very productive track record on the Council for getting things done. These past two years I have supported the establishment of a Tree Commission to preserve trees canopy, year-round composting at a central location, a deer management program, improved signalization along Maple Avenue, a new police pay scale, key maintenance of infrastucture systems and a code change to allow acessory dwelling units attached to primary residences.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have a strong and active history of community service involvement in the Town of Vienna and surrounding area in civic, school, church and community organizations. I am a life member of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department holding a number of leadership positions. As a home owner and long-time Vienna resident, I understand the need to balance key services and activites while avoiding overburdening our residents with higher taxes.