Jennifer Boysko, who is vying for the Democratic nomination to run against Del. Tom Rust (R-86th), was recently interviewed by the Sun-Gazette. Boysko criticized Rust for not pressing harder last year for badly needed transportation funds to pay for a pair of new Metrorail stations planned for the Herndon area and to keep fees from increasing on the Dulles Toll Road. She also noted that Rust voted for legislation that allows adoption agencies to discriminate against gays and lesbians.
“He’s not putting the residents of this community first,” Boysko said. “He’s doing what his party tells him to do, and I don’t think that’s acceptable.”
Boysko favors finding a dedicated source of transportation funding, and opposes Gov. McDonnell’s plan to use general-fund money for transportation, saying that doing so would deprive other state programs of the funding they need.
Boysko has spent much of her life in public service, starting as an aide to U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby when he was a Democrat. Later, she worked at the government-relations firm of Bayless, Boland, Madigan and Barrett Inc. Boysko left the workplace to raise her two daughters, but she remained an active volunteer in Democratic campaigns. She was Virginia director for the 2004 presidential campaign of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. Boysko said she was attracted to Dean’s record as governor of balancing budgets and cutting taxes, while instituting innovative state health care initiatives.
Boysko will face Herbert Kemp in the June 11 Democratic primary, with the winner facing Rust on Nov. 5. Boysko is expected to win the June contest, but the November election will pit her against the big money incumbent Rust will raise from right-wing sources. The support of grassroots activists will be vital for this progressive Democrat, who has been endorsed by Democracy for America and The Farm Team. Please consider a donation to her campaign. Remember, the 86th is a district Barack Obama won with 61% of the vote.
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