Story Published:
Aug 26, 2010 at 11:14 PM CST
Story Updated:
Aug 26, 2010 at 11:14 PM CST
With the primary elections behind us, voters here in the Upper Cumberland are turning their attention to the general election later this fall. I want to take this opportunity to let voters know about my experiences working with a very special public servant who deserves your support come November.
This past semester, I served as the legislative intern to Senator Charlotte Burks. As her intern, I had the unique opportunity to see her real character; not just the carefully scripted talking points and sound-bytes. I was impressed with what I saw and today I am a proud supporter.
Senator Burks is a mother to three, grandmother to 10, and great-grandmother to one. She lives on a farm out in Monterey and as soon as she finishes her work at the capitol each day, she rushes back there, opting to skip the fancy receptions put on each night in Nashville by the lobbyists.
While egos may run largely unchecked at the state legislature, there is nothing pretentious about Senator Burks. At 67 years old, she still mows her own grass and never hesitates to roll up her sleeves and get to work for the people she serves. When constituents wrote in telling us of their troubles, she would take on their concerns as if they were her own and then she would get to work on finding them solutions. She genuinely cared about what was going on in their lives.
Senator Burks is independent minded and refuses to be a rubber stamp of approval for every bill put forth by her party, or an obstructionist to every measure set forth by those on the other side of the aisle. She bases her votes on her own firm convictions, and on the will of the people she serves, not on the wishes of party bosses or special interest groups.
Whenever Senator Burks was going to be presenting a bill in committee, or speaking on the Senate floor this past semester, I made sure to be there, and I would always beam with pride when she took the microphone. She stands on firm convictions, even when they're not politically convenient, always speaks the truth, and always stays humble.
Senator Burks is one of the most kind, sincere human beings I’ve known and I'm honored to have worked for her and, even as a Republican, to support her reelection bid. It is my hope that everyone reading this will join me in offering their support to this outstanding public servant.
