Supervisor John Foust Announces Reelection Bid

Dranesville Supervisor John Foust made it official yesterday, he's running for reelection to a second term on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to represent a district that includes McLean, Great Falls, Herndon.

Surrounded by most of his Democratic colleagues from the Board of Supervisors, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly and a civic who's who from McLean and Herndon, Foust announced his reelection bid from his $3 million home just off of Swinks Mill Road.

"I'm running for reelection," Foust told the crowd of about 100 who broke into sustained applause. "I'm running in large measure because I love this job," he said. "We are making a difference. . . we though people's lives everyday."

Foust and his fellow supervisors are all up for election this year. When Virginians go to the polls in November, they will elect their representatives to the Virginia state senate, the House of Delegates and the school board.

Sharon Bulova, chairman of the board of supervisors said,"John is a great colleague. A valuable colleague and trusted friend."

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-11th congressional district in the center of Fairfax County: "John is a workhorse. He does his homework. He does work well with others."

Earlier Connelly told McLean Patch: "His (Foust)  support is wide, deep and diverse. He's done a great job and citizens are expressing that today." Connolly was chair of the board of supervisors when Foust was elected in 2007. The following year Connolly ran for the U.S. Congress and won.

Nancy Falemi, of McLean said she came to support Foust because: "He is a very hard working supervisor. We are lucky to have people like him willing to work. They have a tough job."

Chris Simmons, a neighbor, said he came because: "I decided that since I didn't know my neighbor very week so I would come and see what he had to say."

Former Herndon City Council member Dennis Husch is running against Foust. Husch kicked off his campaign in mid-January.

Foust's reelection kickoff was like a family gathering for Democrats who chatted and gossiped over fruit, cheese and desserts in Foust's nearly 10,000 square foot home.

The attendees included: Board of Supervisors members:Vice Chair Penelope Gross, Mason District, Catherine M. Hudgins, Hunter Mill District.

Herndon City Council members: Vice Mayor Lisa Merkel, Sheila Olem, Jasbinder Singh, Grace Han Wolf.

McLean Folks: Dan Alcorn, McLean Citizens Association.  Stu and Janet Auerbach, community leaders. Kristin Cabral, Dranesville representative to the Fairfax County Library Board ofTrustees. Darren Ewing, McLean Citizens Association. 

Dan and Karen Duval, owners of Salona, McLean's most historic home. Historian Carol Herrick and her husband Phil Herrick, a banker.

Jay Howell, a member of the McLean Community Center Board. Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the national Democratic Party, former candidate for Virginia governor and a neighbor.  Clark Tyler, who headed the taskforce that draw up the new zoning plan for transforming Tysons Corner into a city.

Foust listed among his accomplishments: Succesful adoption of the new zoning plan for Tysons Corner, which is located in the Providence District. Gaining state money to begin planning for the widening of Route 7. Improved bike and pedestrian trails. Turf fields in Herndon and McLean.

Who is John Foust according to his website:

John has lived in Northern Virginia since 1981 and in McLean since 1987. He is married to Dr. Marilyn Jerome. John and Marilyn have two sons, Mathew and Patrick.

John was raised in Johnstown, Pa. He worked in the steel mills to pay for his education and was the first member of his family to graduate from college. After receiving a degree in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh, he earned MBA and law degrees, both at night while working full time for a large public utility.

Since moving to McLean, John has been active in several civic associations and advisory committees. He served as President of the McLean Citizens Association and the McLean Planning Committee, Chairman of the Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council’s Legislative Committee, Chairman of the Chain Bridge District of the Boy Scouts of America, and Chairman of the Advocacy Committee of Fairfax County’s Medical Care for Children Partnership. 

John was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in November 2007. He represents the Dranesville District which includes McLean, Great Falls and Herndon and portions of the Vienna and Falls Church areas. He is Chairman of the Board’s Audit and Economic Advisory Committees and Vice Chairman of the Board’s Transportation Committee. John also represents Fairfax County on several regional boards and commissions including the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.