Our Community Deserves Leaders Who Show Up

Last Wednesday evening, I had the honor of addressing the Front Royal–Warren County Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum. I’m grateful to the hard-working folks at the Chamber, to the staff at the DoubleTree Front Royal for the beautiful venue, and to all of the other candidates and voters who showed up to have thoughtful conversations.

There was one notable absence, though: My opponent, Delegate Delores Oates, had better things to do than speak with voters. That “better thing” was spending an evening at a pay-to-play partisan fundraiser with Richmond insiders. Paying the bills is important, but never at the expense of communicating with our neighbors.

Our community deserves leaders who show up. Unfortunately, when Delegate Oates has shown up in Richmond, her record speaks volumes. Among the many no votes that would have helped us here in the valley:

• She voted no on HB 2531, which would have created a paid family and medical leave insurance program to support workers and small businesses.
• She voted no on HB 2056, which would have given localities flexibility to set satellite voting site hours so working families could cast a ballot more easily.​

These votes, and the disconnect with regular families, are very on-brand for Delegate Oates. While serving as a Supervisor, she led the first charge attacking Samuel’s Public Library. We need representation that believes in building bridges, not placing party politics over families.

I believe that Warren, Frederick, and Clarke deserve better. I believe service should come before culture wars, and problem-solving should come before partisan posturing. That’s why I’m running: to empower neighborhoods to manage dangerous pass-through traffic, to cut red tape so skilled tradespeople can work, and to protect your personal data from being sold off by bad actors.

We need to ensure our local leaders have all the information and resources necessary to make policy-driven decisions. We need a focus on solutions to traffic on routes 7, 50, 522, and 340, and we need elected officials who don’t take thousands of dollars from utility companies that are actively petitioning to raise rates on every single family in the valley.

Early voting starts September 19th, and Election Day is November 4th. Let’s have a conversation about what matters most to you and your community. What are you proud of? Where do you need help? What has Richmond neglected? What side of the valley do you want to show the rest of the state? Do we want continued divisiveness, or practical and common-sense problem-solving?

This race is about solutions, not spin. About showing up, listening, taking notes, and putting service above politics. That’s Live Here, Work Here, Grow Here.

Shane Boswell
Candidate for Delegate, District 31

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