Charlotte Burks
Encyclopedia
Charlotte Gentry Burks (born October 3, 1942) is a farmer
and Democratic party politician
in Tennessee
who has represented the 15th District as State Senator since 1998.
Burks was born in 1942 in Gainesboro, Tennessee
and lives in Monterey, Tennessee
. She was married to Tommy Burks
, a Tennessee State Senator. In 1998, after her husband was assassinated
during an election campaign by his Republican challenger Byron Looper
, she became a write-in candidate
for his seat. Although she did not campaign, she defeated Looper by a landslide margin, receiving 95% of the vote and becoming the first write-in candidate to win a seat in the Tennessee State Senate. She began her Senate service with the 101st General Assembly.
She was reelected in 2002 and 2006 with no substantive opposition. In 2010, when Republicans picked up many seats in the General Assembly, Burks won re-election to a fourth four-year term by a margin of just 183 votes over her Republican opponent, Gary Steakley. Burks carried five of the six counties in the largely rural district, losing only in Cumberland County. An independent candidate placed third in the vote. Steakley challenged the results, claiming irregularities on election day, but a State Senate committee found that there was insufficient evidence to question the outcome.
In the Senate, Burks has served as the secretary of the education
committee; as a a member of the joint study economic development; government operations; select on children and youth; and the environment
, conservation
, and tourism
committees.
Her voting record has largely been a carbon copy of that of her husband, one of the more conservative Democrats in the state legislature.
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and Democratic party politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
who has represented the 15th District as State Senator since 1998.
Burks was born in 1942 in Gainesboro, Tennessee
Gainesboro, Tennessee
Gainesboro is a town in Jackson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 879 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.Gainesboro is part of the Cookeville, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and lives in Monterey, Tennessee
Monterey, Tennessee
Monterey is a town in Putnam County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,717 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cookeville, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Monterey is located at ....
. She was married to Tommy Burks
Tommy Burks
Tommy Burks was a farmer and Democratic Party politician in Tennessee, United States. He served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1970 until 1978, and in the Tennessee State Senate from 1978 until his murder in 1998.-Biography:Born in Cookeville, Tennessee, Burks was one of the most...
, a Tennessee State Senator. In 1998, after her husband was assassinated
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
during an election campaign by his Republican challenger Byron Looper
Byron Looper
Byron Looper , is a former Republican politician in Tennessee. In order to advance his political career, he legally changed his middle name from "Anthony" to ""...
, she became a write-in candidate
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
for his seat. Although she did not campaign, she defeated Looper by a landslide margin, receiving 95% of the vote and becoming the first write-in candidate to win a seat in the Tennessee State Senate. She began her Senate service with the 101st General Assembly.
She was reelected in 2002 and 2006 with no substantive opposition. In 2010, when Republicans picked up many seats in the General Assembly, Burks won re-election to a fourth four-year term by a margin of just 183 votes over her Republican opponent, Gary Steakley. Burks carried five of the six counties in the largely rural district, losing only in Cumberland County. An independent candidate placed third in the vote. Steakley challenged the results, claiming irregularities on election day, but a State Senate committee found that there was insufficient evidence to question the outcome.
In the Senate, Burks has served as the secretary of the education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
committee; as a a member of the joint study economic development; government operations; select on children and youth; and the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, conservation
Conservation ethic
Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
, and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
committees.
Her voting record has largely been a carbon copy of that of her husband, one of the more conservative Democrats in the state legislature.
External links
- Senator Charlotte Burks - District 15 official State Senate website
- Senator Charlotte Burks official campaign website
- Project Vote Smart - Charlotte Burks (TN) profile
- Follow the Money - Charlotte Burks