One of the organizers of the Women’s March on Roanoke has filed to run against Del. Chris Head.
Djuna (Juna) Osborne, a Democrat, will oppose Head, R-Botetourt, for Virginia’s House of Delegates 17th District seat.
Osborne, 41, helped organize the local women’s march in January that coincided with nationwide women’s marches that were, in part, a reaction to Donald Trump’s presidency. The Roanoke women’s march far exceeded her expectations as thousands of women and men converged on Elmwood Park and then marched through nearby streets.
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Her candidacy somewhat stems from the success of the women’s march, and as a reaction to Trump’s presidency. But the licensed clinical social worker and outpatient therapist at Braley & Thompson Inc. has been working for poor and underserved families for most of her life — work she hopes to continue in public office.
Osborne always wanted to get involved in advocacy or lobbying as an extension of her social work, but when members of the Roanoke County Democratic Committee asked her to run for office, she jumped at the chance.
“Everything that I have done in my life, my career, my personal work, my desire to just unite and represent all people has culminated in this moment,” she said.
Osborne lives in Roanoke. The Columbia, South Carolina, native earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of South Carolina at Columbia and moved to the city about three years ago with her husband and their two daughters.
Head, owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Roanoke, said he has been honored to serve the 17th District and will seek re-election. He has never had an unopposed election cycle.
“I think it’s always good when voters have a choice on the ballot,” he said.
Head first was elected in 2011. He defeated Democratic challengers in 2011 and 2013. In 2015, Head won the Republican primary by 132 votes in a low-turnout election against tea party candidate Harry Griego. Head has more than $28,000 in campaign cash.
Nearly 75 percent of voters in the 17th District live in Roanoke County, with 20 percent in Roanoke and 5 percent in Botetourt County. District voters favor Republicans in statewide elections by a wide margin.
Osborne will kick off her campaign March 20 at Green Ridge Recreation Center at a time to be announced.
She is the only Democratic candidate so far to have announced for the 17th District seat.
Candidates have until March 30 to file paperwork to enter the race.