Meet The Candidate: Kelly Burk Seeks Reelection As Leesburg Mayor

LEESBURG, VA — Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, who has served as the town's mayor since 2017, is running for a third term in the November election.

Burk, who has received the endorsement of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee, has served as a member of the town council since 2012 and served on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors for four years prior to election to office in Leesburg. She also worked as a public school teacher for 34 years.

A Virginia native, Burk grew up in Falls Church and received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University and her master's degree from Virginia Tech. She and her husband Larry have lived in Leesburg for 39 years. Her two sons, Brendan and Tom, live in the area with their families.

Learn more about Burk and why she is running for reelection as mayor of Leesburg in 2020:

Candidate:

Kelly Burk

Age (as of Election Day)

66

Town/City of Residence

Leesburg

Office Sought

Mayor of Town of Leesburg

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Husband, Larry, of 43 years, son Tommy, and his wife Bree with two children Sam and Maggie, in Leesburg and son, Brendan, in Sterling

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Sister Sheila Tate was Nancy Reagan's press secretary, brother Kevin Burke worked in the Baliles and Warner administrations, sister Eileen Fitzpatrick works on local campaigns.

Education

Master of Arts in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bachelor of Arts in Education from The George Washington University, and an Associate Degree from Northern Virginia Community College

Occupation

Retired teacher of 34 years

Campaign website

www.KellyBurkforMayor.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Appointed to the open space task force, public art task force, Liaison to: VML Transportation Committee, Environmental Committee, the Education Committee, presently on the Education and Human Services Committee, the Legislative Committee, the Executive Committee. Council Liaison to Leesburg Crossroads, Annexation Committee, Leesburg Commission on Public Art, Thomas Balch Library Committee, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Environmental Committee, Board of Architectural Review, co-founder of Keep Leesburg Beautiful, Council member 2004 to 2007, Board of Supervisor 2008 to 2011, 2012 town council to present. Governor appointee to the Virginia Business- Education Partnership, Citizen representative to the Board of Optometry.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

My mayoral priorities — ensuring economic vitality, keeping our community safe, and protect our fiscal strength — are in line with what our town priorities should be now and going forward. A community faced with economic stress must focus on community stability. COVID-19 is still running its course. The job losses, poverty, and food scarcity need addressing now and for the foreseeable future.

Sustainability and equity are critical to surviving seismic events like a recession, a natural disaster, or a viral pandemic. We should continue investing in our neighborhoods to provide residents with amenities and open spaces, which have helped our residents stay healthy, mind and body.

We must actively engage a variety of participants in making Leesburg a well-run Town. Elected and volunteer leadership should reflect the diversity of Leesburg and residents encouraged to fully participate in community decision-making. As Mayor, it will always be my focus to have a diverse, welcoming, community that is committed to the well-being of our residents.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have no opponent. He signed a document agreeing not to run if he was not endorsed by the Loudoun Democrats. He failed to get the endorsement. He has raised no money, made no voter outreach, and is not doing anything to show he wants the job. So unless he is not being honest with the voters, he is not running for any office.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Local governments are on the front of this COVID-19 crisis. The stresses to our economy will not end any time soon and this virus will continue to impact our businesses for a long time to come. As the town continues to follow the state phasing guidelines, that will determine consumer spending, and in turn cause people to lose their jobs, making it difficult to pay taxes and then tax revenues will be impacted. With the reduced tax base, the town will be strained to provide the services expected from our residents. The town taxes fund the police, the parks, street repair and cleaning, trash pickup and so much more. With the reduced employment picture many in the community will be unable to pay rent or mortgages. This will result in a huge demand for services for people that will have no job, no home, and nowhere to live.

However, it is premature to suggest budget changes and/or reductions just yet. During the budget process the council will need the most up-to-date data possible to make the best recommendations concerning services. Tax revenue provides detailed economic data and as a council we should be careful to use that data and not emotion to determine service impacts and tax rates.

As a council and working with the region, we need to have a strong lobbing effort in front of Congress to get the aid local and state governments need to shore up their budget needs. We need to work as a region to help businesses find ways to work differently. As mayor, I will create a task force from the business, faith, and non-profit community to advise council on action to be taken. These businesses and giving organizations are in the trenches daily with the individuals and families impacted the most. The task force can focus on ways the community and our town government can help get as many people back to full employment. I will seek a strong partnership with the county on ways to ease the burden of those in our community.

This is going to be a long, arduous struggle and working together with the regional governments, Loudoun County, and organizations such as Visit Loudoun and the nonprofit community, we can find solutions to address our most pressing issues.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

The annexation of Compass Creek into the town, new ways to look at environmental policies, and a budget that is strong but reasonable.

Why should voters trust you?

I have been open, accessible, honest with the public throughout my political career. The Leesburg voters know me. If I make a commitment I will honor that commitment and do the best I can to represent the residents of Leesburg.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My Irish mother would often tell me: If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.