Long time State Senator John Edwards, the Roanoke Democrat, will have opposition for his 21st District seat this fall from the Republicans in the person of Nancy Dye. Dye is a retired surgeon who lives with her husband Ken on Mill Mountain in the same house once owned by former Roanoke City Mayor Ralph Smith – who announced recently that he will not seek a third term for his own Senate seat.
Dye filed all of the paperwork and submitted the signatures needed to get on the ballot and expects to be formally nominated by the local GOP in the near future. She and her husband were also the owner of a medical device company, giving Dye experience and background in the business world. Dye has been active on local boards – including the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors and Roanoke’s Mill Mountain Advisory Board.
The 21st District stretches beyond the Roanoke Valley into Montgomery and Giles County. Even before she received the official confirmation from her party, Dye has been hitting the campaign trail hard speaking to groups, appearing in parades etc. “I want to provide new leadership for the district,” said Dye, “[and] I just saw this as a natural extension of my service.” Dye said she is hearing that voters in the district want a Senator “who can understand what is happening in their lives and is really in touch … with this entire district’s interests.”
Dye said many people know who she is – most often from her work in the community, serving on boards or volunteering in local schools. Dye retired as a surgeon in order to raise three children. “They know that I’m in touch with what’s going on. The reception has been very good.”
Dye said she has been reaching out past party lines to independents and Democrats as well. “We may not agree on everything but the general consensus is that we need new leadership.”
Fundraising is going well she said; earlier in the year Dye’s campaign website reported that she had raised more money than Edwards at that point. Her initial issues of focus, if elected, are the ones potential supporters have been talking about: strengthening opportunities for economic development, growing jobs, expanding educational options – and looking at how healthcare is delivered in the Commonwealth. Expect to hear more on that issue (Dye does not support “Obamacare”) and others as Election Day draws closer.
By Gene Marrano
