Community Corner

Tom Rust is the Right Choice

Letter to the Editor by Susan Alger, Herndon resident

Some folks might think I’m a Democrat because I am…

- A single mother who has struggled to raise a child alone in high-cost Fairfax County

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- The parent of a working college student, who is an active member of the Herndon community

- A 30-year resident of the town and an active volunteer in my community

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- A history making “first female” in my profession, and an advocate for the rights of women

- A woman who has had that suspicious spot on a mammogram and the breast cancer scare

- A Lyme Disease sufferer

- The friend of several women who have made tough decisions about abortion, and a believer in the rights of a woman’s choice

- A current front-line employee of a social services agency and a person who understands the need for better support for the poor, the elderly and the mentally ill

- A wildlife conservationist, nature team volunteer, and a past vice-president of both a state and an international wildlife conservation and enforcement organization

- A past grassroots activist who lobbied the Virginia Legislature for job benefits for law enforcement officers and reasonable changes to state wildlife laws for many years, and more recently for legislation to protect doctors and help those who suffer from Lyme Disease

Others might think I am a Republican because I am also…

- A past law enforcement officer (27 years)

- A retiree from state government after 30 years of service, who has seen both parties in power and how they conducted the business of the state and treated their employees

- An advocate of the rights of citizens to own and carry firearms, an NRA member, a past hunter safety instructor, a hunter, a target shooter, but by no means a gun nut.

In fact, I am an Independent voter and a moderate in my beliefs, and like most folks I’m disgusted with the way our federal legislators have been so polarized that they did serious, lasting damage to this country and citizens by their inability to work together.

With a CV like that, I bet it’s anybody’s guess who I am voting for as Delegate of the 86th District of the Virginia House of Delegates. 

Luckily, it’s an easy call.

Tom Rust gets my vote.

It’s a sound and simple choice.  I have witnessed Tom’s distinguished record of service to our community, Northern Virginia, and the state at large. Tom’s seniority gives him standing on key committees. His professional expertise, and reputation for making thoughtful, considered, and even innovative recommendations provide him with the kind of credibility and ability to garner votes and pass legislation that a freshman legislator could not match. 

I have heard first-hand from Tom’s fellow legislators and their staffers, from BOTH parties, that Tom is one of the most respected and dependable members of the house, a moderate who can build consensus, open doors, and lead the way to get the job done.  Tom is a learned man, and one wise enough to research and ask questions of others to gain more insight before voting on issues that he may not have expertise in.  I have seen him champion legislation in an up-hill battle against some powerful lobby groups because he recognized it was the right and honorable course of action. And I have seen him tell some hard-truths to those seeking support of legislation that he knew could not succeed. I’ll take that honesty over inexperience, empty promises, and extreme partisan attacks any day.

Tom is not a politician in my eyes; he is a statesman, that rare and honorable individual who works cooperatively for the greater good.  I have seen him run clean campaigns based on issues, which stood in contrast to the misleading, snap-shot, sound-bite factoids spouted by his opponents.  Their limited, repetitive, sensationalist mantras don’t tell the real story about Tom’s lengthy record of service. They are based on hot-button issues that his opposition feels, if they repeat them enough, you will have to believe them and that they define the whole man.  As Paul Harvey would have put it, there is the REST of the story. Riders, amendments, previously unforeseen fiscal repercussions - there are any number of nuances to the legislative process and to try to pigeon-hole such an effective, long-serving legislator as Tom, based on these inflammatory bullet points is disingenuous and insulting to both the man and the citizens he represents.

Tom Rust is the right choice.


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