John Foust has been contemplating what he would do were he elected as Dranesville District supervisor since Nov. 6, 2003. That was the day that he narrowly lost to the current Dranesville District Supervisor Joan DuBois.
“I never stopped thinking about it,” said Foust, an attorney who resides in McLean. “I really do want to be supervisor — it’s a great job and a great way to serve the community.”
Foust was the only Democratic supervisor candidate to file for seat in the upcoming November election, and incumbent DuBois was the only Republican candidate to file.
Foust officially kicked off his campaign for supervisor at his home in McLean on Sunday, April 15. Approximately 90 people showed up for the event, including Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Gerald Connolly, state Sen. Janet Howell (D-32nd) and Fairfax County School Board member for the Dranesville District Jane Strauss.
Married to Dr. Marilyn Jerome Foust, and father to two sons, Matthew, 20, and Patrick, 17, John Foust has resided in the Northern Virginia area for 26 years. Heavily involved in community service activities, he is a member of the McLean Citizens Association (MCA), and has served as the organization’s president, and is also a member of its Board of Directors and its Transportation and Planning and Zoning committees. Foust is also president of the McLean Planning Committee, chair of the Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) legislative committee, a McLean Youth Soccer coach, and a member of the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. In addition he is chair of the Chain Bridge District for the Boy Scouts of America, and is a member of the Timberly South Homeowners Association.
FOUST IS an avid supporter of the Tysons Tunnel for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail line, and he is also a supporter of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project.
“I’m a proponent of both,” said Foust. “If we can’t get the tunnel, I still believe we have to get rail out to Dulles because it’s going to dramatically affect what we accomplish in Tysons Corner.”
Foust said he suspects that by the time the November election rolls around, the community will have a firm answer on whether or not the underground tunnel option is a possibility for Tysons Corner. In the event that the underground tunnel is not approved, Foust says that it will be the supervisor’s job to advocate for appropriate development and proffers in Tysons.
“If it was just the elevated rail, that would be bad enough,” said Foust. “But you’ve got the 3.5 million square feet that was approved at Tysons Corner, and you’ve got the Hot Lanes that they’re going to be bringing off the Beltway into Tysons. It’s going to be quite a mess up there and we’re just going to have to work through it.”
Foust said that he believes there are three key components to “working through it.” Namely, rail to Dulles has to be constructed, landowners must be prevented from using rail as an excuse for unbridled growth, and any growth must be timed with planned transportation improvements.
“If all we do is put rail in and let unbridled growth take place, it’s going to be a disaster,” said Foust. “But if we work hard at it, and work through the issues and time things properly, Tysons as a transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly place is a good thing.”