O'Reilly Considering Challenge to Tom Rust
Some Virginia Democrats are encouraging Michael L. O'Reilly, the former mayor of Herndon, to run against Del. Thomas Davis Rust (R-Fairfax) next year.
O'Reilly, a lawyer who was mayor from 2004 to 2006, currently serves on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. In an interview, O'Reilly said he hasn't made up his mind about whether he wants to run for elective office next year.
"I am still heavily involved in the community and I am involved in a lot of things, but I am not a candidate for anything as it stands today," said O'Reilly, who added his wife told him he would be "crazy" if he decided to run for the House. "I am very, very busy running my law practice and very busy with the metropolitan airports board, which is almost a full-time job."
Rust, who was mayor of Herndon from 1976 to 1984 and then again from 1990 to 2001, represents a district that has been trending Democratic in statewide elections. But Rust, who is well-respected in Herndon and has a reputation as a moderate, has proven himself to be a formidable opponent.
After a nasty race against Democrat Jay P. Donahue, Rust won reelection last year with 53 percent of the vote.
The Fairfax County Democratic Committee sent out a statement Tuesday that said it would be heavily targeting Rust, who has yet to say whether he plans to seek reelection, in 2009.
"The Republican-controlled House of Delegates continues to be out of touch with Northern Virginia as is Tom Rust," said Scott A. Surovell, chairman of the Fairfax County Democratic Party.
But an O'Reilly candidacy could rekindle the debate in Herndon over government efforts to create day laborer centers. O'Relily was defeated as mayor in 2006 following a backlash over his support for a center in Herndon.
By Tim Craig |
June 25, 2008; 11:50 AM ET
| Category:
Tim Craig
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Posted by: NoVA | June 25, 2008 3:36 PM
As a member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. does he have a plan to deal with the Dulles Toll Road cheaters?
Posted by: Anonymous | June 25, 2008 8:43 PM
I heard that FCDC had started a new blog called Bust Rust?
Posted by: Anonymous | June 25, 2008 11:43 PM
So much for fact-checking by the Washington Post.
O'Reilly was mayor of Herndon for only one term, from 2004-2006.
The people of Herndon did not care for his elitist attitude and social engineering experiments, so they voted him out.
It amazes me that he would consider running against Tom Rust.
Posted by: truthinmedia | June 26, 2008 11:14 AM
yeah it is http://bustrust.com
Posted by: Anonymous | June 26, 2008 11:33 AM
O'Reilly is living in LaLa land. He could not be elected Dog Catcher in Herndon.
Posted by: FromHerndon | June 26, 2008 11:38 AM
Yeah, he's living in Tom Rust's la la land where we tax food for roads.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 26, 2008 1:30 PM
or Nancy Peolsi's la la land where we place windfall taxes on people's retirement.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 26, 2008 2:54 PM
You baby boomers have been living on ether for the last two decades. It's about time you paid for the mess you've created.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 26, 2008 3:15 PM
Grow up Junior. I'm tired of having Generation 'whatever the next fad is' blame the Boomers for economic problems. The unpaid fundings which cause so many of our budgetary problems are a function of The Greatest Generation being in power back in the 60's and 70's.
And before you whine about Booomers and Social Security as I've heard your type do for years. It wasn't even until this year that the first Boomer even qualified for Social Security.
So far the score for Boomers is 1-1. Clinton, Positive - Bush, you can get much more Negative.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 26, 2008 6:36 PM
Nice to see the Post corrected the story
Posted by: truthinmedia | June 27, 2008 10:43 AM
There should be a maximum age for sucking on the tit of the american taxpayer, turn 70, you're cut off.
You are the weakest link, goodbye.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 1, 2008 9:15 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
"After a nasty race against Democrat Jay P. Donahue, Rust won reelection last year with 53 percent of the vote"
And who made that race nasty? Tom Rust.