June 9, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: With a June 17 Republican primary, voters should consider the proven track record of Del. Terry Austin.
Having served on the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors for 16 years and on the county’s Planning Commission for four years, Terry’s experience in local governance has allowed him to effectively represent the unique needs of our region while serving in Richmond. Terry has consistently proven his ability to navigate the politics of Richmond in order to deliver results to our district. In a state as politically divided as Virginia, a proven leader ensures the 37th District’s needs are addressed alongside those of wealthier and more populous districts.
Serving on the House Appropriations Committee, Terry actively works to assure that Virginia responsibly invests in development while remaining business friendly. In his role on the House Transportation Committee, he has prioritized improvements to our district’s infrastructure, especially on Interstate-81. He has also been a strong proponent of Virginia’s rail infrastructure, notably advocating funding Amtrak in our region.
In addition to spearheading infrastructure improvements, he has worked to ensure Virginia’s roads and rails bring prosperity to our district. As chair of the Virginia 250 Commission, he leads the Department of Historic Resources to fund restoration of historic sites across the Commonwealth. A strong proponent of the Virginia Museum of Transportation, Terry helped secure over $1 million dollars of funding for the museum. With a keen interest in keeping the museum’s iconic Engine 611 on the rails, Terry has been instrumental in establishing Virginia as a destination for scenic rail tourism.
As the upcoming primary is open to all registered voters, I strongly encourage citizens of the 37th District to support Delegate Austin as he has so supported the region and the Commonwealth throughout decades of public service. WILL HARRIS Goshen
