Zachariah Burck

Zachariah Burck was born in Colorado. He began serving in the U.S. Air Force in 2020. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2015.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Colorado native, Christian, an engineer, an Air Force Reservist, and a Millennial. I come from a big family in the Denver suburbs. Before college I worked at a movie theater, Denver International Airport, and even at Jimmy John's. I graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering Technology. I am running because I love Colorado and I'd like to make it a better place for everyone to live. I've seen firsthand the issues that average Coloradans are facing and believe I can tackle them more effectively than other candidates.

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?

End and prevent future unscientific pandemic restrictionsImprove single family housing availabilityInvest in roads and infrastructure

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

There are many including housing, education, law enforcement, nature reserves, energy, and more. At this time I'm most passionate about my Key Issues listed above. I am focused on improving Colorado and returning to the normal pre-Coronavirus society we once enjoyed.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe the core responsibilities for a Governor are: enforcing existing laws, preventing bad bills from becoming law (veto power), managing state executive departments, and fighting for Colorado's people at the Federal Government level (includes funding, emergency relief, etc.)

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

For my first job I worked at a movie theater. I was there for 5 years and learned all of the basic tasks including cleaning, ticketing, projection, concessions, and some management and maintenance work. The pay was about minimum wage, but it was good experience and a fun time.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite fiction book is The Hobbit. It's a very entertaining and well-written fantasy story with great characters.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Believer by Imagine Dragons

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Putting myself out there and socializing was a huge struggle for me before high school. Working various jobs and getting exposed to all different kinds of great people helped me overcome those fears.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

The Colorado Governor does have line-item veto power. It is a powerful tool for cutting spending and canceling legislative priorities you disagree with. However, it must be used carefully to avoid unexpected consequences and conflict with the legislature. I would always consider using it, but would judge each case or budget individually.

What do you love most about your state?

What I love most about Colorado is its people who I would describe as freedom-minded, capable, tolerant, environmentally tough, and candid.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Having seen the state change greatly in my lifetime, I would say the greatest challenge of the next decade will be managing population growth. We hate to see open spaces, vacant land, and light traffic disappearing, but we love to see Colorado and its families grow. It will be important to balance land, natural resources, housing policies, roads, and more to best serve Colorado residents as the state continues to grow.

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