Geoffrey Burke

Geoffrey Burke was born in Dayton, Ohio. Burke earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1981. Burke's professional experience includes working as an educator, homeschool/learning pod facilitator, mentor, and tutor. Burked served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 2001. Burke has also worked with the National Right to Work Committee and as a local property management administrator. Burke has been affiliated with Boy Scouts of America, Concerned Veterans for America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Greenbrier Church in Chesapeake.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Retired Navy officer and high school history/Bible teacher. Home-owner; lived in this District over 20 years. Worked for the National Right to Work Committee. Veterans advocate, with the Concerned Veterans for America; active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Cub Scout leader (all levels). Active in lay leadership at my local church.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Virginia's children should not suffer from poor educational opportunities because of their zip code. I will fight for excellence in every classroom and for more choices for parents for where their children go to school.No Virginia family should be afraid in their homes and on the streets of their communities. I will fight for more resources for our police and 1st responders to ensure our streets are safe.Conflict in our communities between people is being artificially inflamed through the promotion of race-based "identity" indoctrination. We must teach our children to evaluate others based on their character, not their skin color.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education: Virginia's children must be given the tools so they can become excellent citizens and prosperous members of their communities. Curriculum based on a political agenda has no place in our classrooms. Rather, history must be taught "as it happened," and government must be taught from the perspective of our Founders. Our children should be challenged mentally in the classroom. Excellence in math and science must be pursued. Parents must have more choices for where their children attend school.

Public Safety: Virginia families are increasingly fearful of violence in their neighborhoods. Crime is increasing because criminals are not being held accountable and because police are increasingly under attack. Failure to properly fund law enforcement reduces the incentive for new officers to train and join the force and causes trained officers to quit or retire early. Murderers and rapists, are being released (paroled) early in our communities where they continue their anti-social, destructive ways. Government at all levels must be tough on crime and encouraging of our law enforcers.

Constitutional liberties: Since the beginning of our very special American culture, Virginia has been a leader in the cause of liberty. After life, God's greatest gift to mankind was freedom; we were designed for liberty. Virginians led the nation in the defense and preservation of our individual liberties. Government's first role is to preserve our freedoms.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Personal integrity is the most important character quality of an elected official. To enable them to accomplish their required work, elected officials necessarily wield authority, power and influence beyond that of an average citizen. We are also well aware of the truth of the maxim that "power corrupts." Personal integrity is the best defense against the seduction of power and influence.

I find that personal integrity is best established on the foundation of a moral code that derives from the Deity. Such a code is unchanging and stable, unlike moral codes based on practicality or social mores that change over time. When a legislator adheres to a higher moral code his or her actions and impulses are tempered by an awareness of a higher purpose and a more severe consequence for moral failings. This is the reason the vast majority of our Founders appealed to the citizens to elect virtuous men to represent them.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

These are the qualities I possess that make me an excellent choice as a representative of the people in the General Assembly:

I am a biblical Christian. My worldview is biblical. My ethics and values are Judeo-Christian.

I am a student of history, particularly colonial American. I understand the origins & foundations of our constitutional federal Republic, and have a sense of the reasons our political culture has been in decline, with the subsequent decline in our economy, morals and quality of life.

I have a servant's heart; I am focused on serving others. This can be seen in my life journey beginning at college graduation and the acceptance of a commission as a naval officer, through my service in the classrooms of Chesapeake, as a representative of two national grassroots advocacy organizations, and as an order-taker at a local fast food franchise.

My service will be not about me, but about the people who elect me to represent them. I take this calling to service very seriously.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November 1963. I was in kindergarten. I remember our elementary principal interrupting class with an announcement on the public address system that we were all going home early that day because our President had been shot. I remember many of the lady teachers began crying. I knew something terrible had happened. My family watched the funeral of the President on television. President Kennedy was a war hero and a youthful man whose election a few years earlier had filled Americans with a hope for a positive, prosperous future. His murder destroyed the hope in the hearts of so many Americans, even those who did not vote for him. It was a terrible day and, I believe now, the beginning of a national disillusionment that has continued, with only a few bright places, to this day.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

My favorite fictional character is Aragorn from the popular "Lord of the Rings" trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein and in the film as interpreted by director Peter Jackson. He is well aware of his shortcomings and haunted by the character failure of his ancestors. He knows much will be required of him and he has been on a journey of preparation his entire life, but he is fearful he will fail his people. But, he is surrounded by people who believe in him, and who encourage and stand with him, even to the end. In all his uncertainty and self-doubt he develops a genuine personal humility and heart for service. He knows the difference between right and wrong and vigorously, selflessly advocates and defends rightness and is merciless towards evil.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The ideal relationship between a governor and state legislature occurs when each perform their specific constitutional duties. The governor, as chief executive, must sign into law, acts of the legislature that are constitutional and that promote the well-being of the people. The governor must not sign acts of the legislature that expand the power of government outside of constitutional limits or acts that show preferential treatment of some citizens over the rest. The governor may not legislate through edict or executive order; it is not the governor's role to make law. The governor must appoint people to the various governing bodies of state boards or commissions who are qualified and capable and who will be faithful first to the constitution.

The legislature must make laws that are constitutional and necessary. Laws that expand government authority, control or influence over the people must not be made. The legislature must thoroughly debate each bill to ensure it is constitutionally fit and necessary for the well-being of all the citizens. The legislature must hold the governor and the executive agencies accountable for their acts by every legitimate means at their disposal.

In either case the governor and the legislators must be held accountable to their oaths of office. The people are sovereign, not those in government. The first responsibility of governors and legislators is to preserve the individual liberties of the people. Each branch of government must hold the other accountable to that end.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

The only benefit of a unicameral legislature is prompt action.

The major drawback is that the lack of another chamber prevents deeper deliberation of legislative initiatives. Legislation, to be effective and safe, that is, to ensure it comports with the spirit and letter of the constitution, must be a deliberative, and sometimes painstakingly slow process. The specific interests of either chamber should operate to provide a check and balance on the other chamber.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe it is beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government, but not necessary. I believe our system was designed and operates best with legislators who serve for short terms and then return to their non-government professions. There is a professional cadre of administrators who provide continuity of process in the legislature, so while legislators may (and should) develop areas of expertise, long-term memory is preserved in the chambers. Frequent turnover of elected legislators is a good thing. Long-term members of a legislature often seem to create fiefdoms which become a personal means to undue expansion of authority and influence that is typically NOT in the best interest of the People.

Additionally, while I am not a fan of statutory "term limits," believing the voters should be the term limiters at the ballot box, the incumbency advantage in elections has become so significant that mandatory, statutory limits may become necessary.

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