Politics & Government
Burk Officially Announces Town Council Candidacy
The former supervisor said she's looking forward to the special election, which will be held on April 17.
Kelly Burk officially announced her candidacy for Town Council Friday night during Leesburg’s First Friday on the town green.
Burk, who previously served the on the council in 2004, said there are a number of reasons she decided to run again.
“I had a large number of people within the community that asked me to consider it and when I looked at it, it sure made a lot of sense,” Burk said. “I’ve served on the Council before, I was on the Board of Supervisors obviously and now I can take what I learned at the supervisor level and bring it back to the Council.”
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As a candidate, Burk said she hopes to bring some important issues to the Town Council. Among them is transportation, she said, such as a climbing lane on Route 7, completion of Crosstrail to Route 7, or a comprehensive bus service with more bus shelters.
Burk said she strongly supports existing businesses in town and encourages new ventures while support the Leesburg Airport as an economic driver. She also supports the Thomas Balch Library, live entertainment in the downtown and revitalizing the downtown.
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In regards to opposition, Burk said she does not support providing water to new locations out of town. “The Leesburg taxpayer should not be paying for a pipeline miles outside of town,” she said “to a development that is being served by Loudoun Water, the same development that is suing or threatening to sue Loudoun Water and Loudoun County.”
Town Council members Marty Martinez and Dave Butler showed their support alongside Senator Mark Herring and Mayor Kristen Umstattd.
“I’m always excited when we have good candidates in the race and it would be hard to find a better candidate then Kelly,” Umstattd said. “While she was on the Board of Supervisors and before that while she was on the Town Council I’ve always found her to be very reasonable, very thoughtful.
"When she was on the Council she was the first Council member to come to me and say we need to reduce the real estate tax rate because assessments are going through the roof and we need to look out for the tax payers," Umstattd added. "So I’m very happy with that strain of fiscal conservatism that she has displayed on the Council and I’m looking forward to welcoming her back.”
Burk said she looks forward to the upcoming special election, which will be held on Tuesday, April 17, to fill the seat currently occupied by interim council member, Terry Titus.
“Some people have asked me, and I even say it in my remarks, ‘Why are you stepping down?’ Well it’s not a matter of stepping down to me,” Burk said. “Town Council is the governing body so they’re much more important. It’s an opportunity and I’d like to give it a try.”
