- Nancy Boyda
-
Nancy Boyda 
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kansas's 2nd districtIn office
January 4, 2007 – January 3, 2009Preceded by Jim Ryun Succeeded by Lynn Jenkins Personal details Born August 2, 1955
St. Louis, MissouriPolitical party Democratic Spouse(s) Steve Boyda Residence Topeka, Kansas Alma mater William Jewell College Occupation chemist Religion Methodist Nancy Boyda (born August 2, 1955) is a former Democratic congresswoman representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district.
On November 4, 2008, Boyda was defeated for re-election by Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, after serving one term.[1]
Following her term in Congress, Boyda was appointed deputy assistant secretary of defense for manpower and personnel at The Pentagon, and was sworn into the position on July 20, 2009.[2]
Contents
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.
2004 campaign for Congress
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 criticized 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%.
Democrats held this district from 1971 to 1995 when voters split their tickets.
2006 campaign for Congress
Boyda challenged Ryun again in 2006. She upset him by 51% to 47%, despite the district being low on both national parties' political radars. Boyda was helped by popular Democratic Governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius winning re-election 57% to 40%. Ryun was a strongly 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.
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.[3]
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."[4] However, she continues to support gradual troop withdrawal while funding troops until they return.[5]
Environmental record
Boyda supported research toward renewable forms of energy, particularly ethanol and biodiesel production that could benefit Kansas agriculture.[6]
Armed Services Committee hearing, July 2007
Congresswoman Boyda made news on July 27, 2007 by leaving 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."[7]
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." [7]
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.[8]
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
2008 campaign for Congress
In January 2007, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole announced that the NRCC intended to target Boyda in 2008. Ryun announced that he would try to get his old seat back, and Republican leaders reportedly assured him that he would win.[9] On April 4, 2007, State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins officially announced she would oppose Ryun in the Republican primary. Other candidates mentioned include former state House Speaker Doug Mays and Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, though following the filling deadline, only Ryun and Jenkins qualified for the Republican primary ballot. Jenkins narrowly defeated Ryun in the August 5, 2008 primary.
Boyda and Jenkins were opposed in the general election by Libertarian Party candidate Robert Garrard and Reform Party candidate Leslie Martin. Boyda announced she would not seek assistance from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for her 2008 campaign.[10]
References
- ^ Klepper, David; Jim Sullinger & Dawn Bormann (November 5, 2008). "Jenkins unseats Boyda; Moore, Roberts re-elected". Kansas City Star.
- ^ http://www.cjonline.com/news/state/2009-07-20/boyda_sworn_in_at_pentagon
- ^ parsonssun.com
- ^ Office of the Clerk
- ^ ljworld.com
- ^ Boyda Campaign Site
- ^ a b Hananel, Sam. "Boyda defends decision to leave Iraq hearing". The Associated Press. The Topeka Capital-Journal. July 31, 2007.
- ^ "A look into growth-related needs". The Manhattan Mercury. September 27, 2007. Archived at Wayback Machine.
- ^ WIBW News headline wibw.com
- ^ TheHill.com
External links
- Nancy Boyda for Congress, Campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
Articles
- http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Campaign/011807_boyda.html
- http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/01/ryun_to_run_aga.html#more
- http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/013007/bradley.html
- http://www.cjonline.com/stories/100306/loc_ryunboyda.shtml
United States House of Representatives Preceded by
Jim RyunMember of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kansas's 2nd congressional district
2007-2009Succeeded by
Lynn JenkinsCategories:- 1955 births
- Living people
- People from St. Louis, Missouri
- American Methodists
- Kansas Democrats
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas
- United States Department of Defense officials
- American chemists
- William Jewell College alumni
- Women in Kansas politics
- Armed Services Committee
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