Nancy Boyda

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Nancy Boyda
Nancy Boyda
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kansas's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 4, 2007
Preceded by Jim Ryun
Born August 2, 1955 (1955-08-02) (age 52)
St. Louis, Missouri
Political party Democratic
Spouse Steve Boyda
Religion Methodist

Nancy Boyda (born August 2, 1955) is the Democratic congresswoman representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district. The district takes in most of the eastern third of the state, including the state capital, Topeka.

On November 7, 2006, she defeated the incumbent representative, Republican Jim Ryun, 51% to 47%. She had campaigned on creating jobs, health care, and public education. Ryun had previously held the seat for five terms.

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[edit] Background

Boyda graduated with honors from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, where she received dual degrees in chemistry and education. She began her career in 1978 working as an analytical chemist and field inspector. Boyda grew up in a Republican family, but became a Democrat in 2003. Nancy Boyda is married to Steve Boyda, a Marine Corps veteran who grew up on his family farm in Marysville, Kansas.

[edit] 2004 campaign for Congress

After leading multiple protests against the war in Iraq,[1]in 2004 she ran against Republican incumbent Jim Ryun in Kansas' Second District. Boyda criticized Ryun's support for school vouchers and his lack of support for public schools. She said she had left the Republican Party because it had become too conservative. Ryun attacked her for taking part in protests against the Iraq War. Boyda spent $1.1 million on her campaign, $300,000 of it her own money. Ryun spent $1.2 million. George W. Bush carried the district 59%-39% and Ryun defeated Boyda 56%-41%.

[edit] 2006 campaign for Congress

Boyda challenged Ryun again in 2006. She upset him 51%-47%, despite the district being low on both national parties' radars. Boyda was helped by popular Democratic Governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius winning re-election 57%-40%. Ryun was a conservative Republican and the Republican Party of Kansas had been rife with infighting between conservatives and moderates; moderate Republicans seem to have defected to both Sebelius and Boyda. There was also the issue of Ryun's purchase of a Washington, D.C. townhouse from Tom Delay associates at a price well below market value.

[edit] Service in the House of Representatives

Boyda was assigned membership to the Armed Service Committee and Agriculture Committee. In the 110th United States Congress, Boyda, as a freshman, introduced a bill, H.R. 476, to deny pensions to members of Congress convicted of bribery, conspiracy or perjury charges. The Bill passed in the House of Representatives on January 23, 2007, by a vote of 431-0. Boyda also applied to join the conservative Democrat House caucus, the Blue Dogs. She was unable to join as adding her would have put the blue dogs over their membership limit of 47.[2]

On May 10, 2007, Boyda voted against H.R. 2237, a measure, "to provide for the redeployment of United States Armed Forces and defense contractors from Iraq."[3] However, she continues to support gradual troop withdrawal while funding troops until they return.[4]

[edit] Environmental record

Boyda officially supports research toward renewable forms of energy, particularly ethanol and biodiesel production that could benefit Kansas agriculture.[5]

[edit] July 2007 walkout on Armed Services Committee hearing

Congresswoman Boyda made news on July 27, 2007 by walking out of a Congressional hearing while a retired Army general testified about US progress in Iraq. Retired Army General Jack Keane had testified that since the troop surge began, U.S. forces "are on the offensive and we have the momentum." He also said security has improved in every neighborhood and district in and around Baghdad, and that "cafes, pool halls, coffee houses that I visited are full of people". Boyda said she left the House Armed Services Committee hearing during the testimony of General Keane because "there was only so much that you could take," and continued to say she felt Keane's picture of the situation in Iraq was inappropriately "rosy."[6]

Her Chief of Staff Shanan Guinn said, "She was frustrated with how the administration is handling the war, that no one wants to have a real conversation about ways to move forward and our brave men and women overseas are being played like a political ping pong ball." [6]

Boyda later told the Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury, that she did not "walk out" of the meeting. Instead, she "stepped into a little room" adjacent to the meeting for five minutes, then returned. She hoped to draw a distinction between politely excusing herself and storming out of the room. [7]

[edit] Committee Assignments

  • Armed Services Committee
    • Subcommittee on Military Personnel
    • Subcommittee on Readiness
  • Agriculture Committee
    • Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research
    • Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry
    • Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management

[edit] 2008 election

In January 2007, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole announced that the NRCC intends to target Boyda in 2008. Ryun has announced that he will try to get his old seat back, and Republican leaders reportedly assured him that he would win.[8] On April 4, 2007, State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins officially announced she would oppose Ryun in the Republican Primary. Other candidates who have been mentioned include former state House Speaker Doug Mays and Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh.

Democrats held this district from 1971 to 1995 when voters split their tickets. Jenkins has been endorsed by pro-choice groups like the WISH List and Republicans for Choice.[citation needed]

Boyda has also announced that she will not seek assistance from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for her 2008 campaign.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Democratic Underground - Nancy did help organize protests - Democratic Underground
  2. ^ parsonssun.com
  3. ^ Office of the Clerk
  4. ^ ljworld.com
  5. ^ Boyda Campaign Site
  6. ^ a b cjonline.com
  7. ^ themercury.com
  8. ^ WIBW News headline wibw.com
  9. ^ TheHill.com

[edit] External links

Articles

Political offices
Preceded by
Jim Ryun		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kansas's 2nd congressional district
2007 – present		 Incumbent
v • d • e
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Jerry Moran (R), Nancy Boyda (D), Dennis Moore (D), Todd Tiahrt (R)
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