Cindy Burkett

Cindy Gay Burkett (born November 12, 1958)[1] is a businesswoman from Sunnyvale, Texas, who is a Republican former member of the Texas House of Representatives, serving from 2011 to 2019. From 2013 to 2019 she represented District 113 on the eastern edge of Dallas County. In her first term from 2011 to 2013, she represented a since reconfigured District 101, based about her native Mesquite, also in Dallas County.[2]

Cindy Burkett
Majority Leader of the Texas House of Representatives
In office March 8, 2018 – January 8, 2019
Preceded by	Tan Parker
Succeeded by	Dustin Burrows
In office August 26, 2014 – January 14, 2015 Acting
Preceded by	Brandon Creighton
Succeeded by	Tan Parker
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 113th district
In office January 8, 2013 – January 2019
Preceded by	Chris Turner
Succeeded by	Rhetta Bowers
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 101st district
In office January 11, 2011 – January 8, 2013
Preceded by	Robert Miklos
Succeeded by	Joe Driver
Personal details
Born	September 13, 1958 Mesquite, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mike Burkett
Children	3
Residence	Sunnyvale
Education	Eastfield College University of Texas, Arlington (BA)

Background

Burkett received an Associate of Arts degree in business from Eastfield College, a community college in Mesquite. In 2004, at the age of forty-five, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 2005, she completed the Alternative Dispute Resolution program at the University of North Texas in Denton.[3] Burkett is a realtor.

Political life

Prior to running for the state House, Burkett was a legislative aide and then deputy regional director for District 2 Republican State Senator Bob Deuell.

In the 2010 Republican primary, Burkett won her party's nomination with 3,540 votes (50.4 percent) over two opponents, attorney Gregory Carr "Greg" Noschese (born c. 1970) of Mesquite and formerly of Shreveport, Louisiana, and former Representative Thomas R. Latham (born c. 1933) of Mesquite, who held the seat from 2007 to 2009. Noschese and Latham polled 33.2 and 16.4 percent of the vote, respectively.[4] In the November 2, 2010 general election in District 101, Burkett narrowly unseated the Democratic incumbent representative, attorney Robert James Miklos (born c. 1965) of Mesquite, 13,266 (51.8 percent) to 12,338 (48.2 percent).[5]

In 2012, Representative Joe Driver of Garland was placed with Burkett in District 113,[6] but facing ethics violations he did not run again, and Burkett was nominated without opposition. In the general election in District 113 held on November 6, 2012, she faced no Democratic opponent but defeated a Green Party nominee, Angela Kennette Sarlay (born c. 1972) of Rowlett, 28,727 votes (80.9 percent) to 6,763 (19.1 percent).[7]

In 2018, Burkett unsuccessfully challenged State Senator Bob Hall of the 2nd Senate District. She ran as a moderate alternative to the more conservative Hall in the primary election held on March 6, 2018.[8][9]

Burkett served on these House committees: (1) Investments & Financial Services, (2) Transportation and (3) Local and Consent Calendars.[3] She was the vice chair of the Texas House Republican Caucus. Speaker Joe Straus named her to the Energy Council, which seeks to develop national energy policies in the southwestern states. Burkett is a member of the National Conference of State Legislators and serves on the Network Advisory Council of the Women's Legislative Network.[10]

Burkett's House seat was replaced in 2019 by a Democrat, Rhetta Bowers, who defeated the GOP replacement nominee, Jonathan Boos, 28,060 votes (53.5 percent) to 24,407 (46.5 percent).[11]

Legislative voting records

Abortion

In 2011, Burkett supported two other anti-abortion measures. One forbids state funding of agencies which perform abortions. The other requires that a woman undergo a sonogram before procuring an abortion. This legislation is based on the view that a woman could change her mind about an abortion once she witnesses the development of the unborn child through the latest technology.[12] According to Project Vote Smart, the Texas Right to Life Committee rated Burkett 87 percent favorable in 2013 and 71 percent in 2011.Burkett in 2013 supported the ban on abortion after five months of gestation; the measure passed the House, 96-49. She co-sponsored companion legislation to increase medical and licensing requirements of abortion providers,[12] a move which opponents said could lead to the closure of many abortion clinics in the state. These issues brought forth an unsuccessful filibuster in the state Senate by Wendy R. Davis of Fort Worth, who in 2014 was the Democratic nominee for governor against the Republican Greg Abbott.[13]

Second Amendment

Burkett co-sponsored the bill to prohibit the state government from engaging in the enforcement of federal regulations of firearms. She sponsored the measure to allow college and university officials to carry concealed weapons in buildings and vehicles in the name of campus security. She co-sponsored the bill to reduce the time required to obtain a concealed-carry permit. She backed the redistricting bills for the state House and Senate and the United States House of Representatives. She voted against term limits for certain state officials.[12]

Burkett held an A rating from the NRA.

Other

Burkett co-sponsored legislation to provide marshals for school security as a separate law-enforcement entity. She also co-sponsored the successful bill to extend the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses. Burkett voted for the adoption of the biennial state budgets in both 2013 and 2011. She voted to require testing for narcotics of those individuals receiving unemployment compensation. She voted against the "equal pay for women" law, which passed the House, 78-61, but was vetoed by Governor Rick Perry.[12]

In 2011, Burkett voted against legislation to outlaw texting while driving, but she reversed herself and supported the ban in 2013. She voted in 2011 to reduce funding for state agencies. She voted to levy a sales tax on Internet transactions to match existing laws for brick and mortar stores' the measure passed the House 125-20. Burkett voted against the prohibition of smoking in public places. She voted to establish eligibility for indigent health care. She voted for corporal punishment in public schools; the bill passed the House, 80-64. To guarantee the integrity of the election process, she supported picture identification of voters casting a ballot.[12] The measure finally took effect in October 2013 and was used widely without incident in the primaries on March 4, 2014.[14] In 2013, Burkett sponsored related legislation to forbid a voter from turning in multiple ballots.[12]

Interest group ratings

Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum, managed in Texas by Cathie Adams, a former state chairman of the Texas Republican Party rated Burkett 80 percent favorable in 2013 and 88 percent in 2011. The Young Conservatives of Texas gave her a cumulative score in 2013 of 74 percent. The Texas Association of Business, which awarded her a cumulative score of 92 percent, named her a "Champion for Free Enterprise". The Texas League of Conservation Voters rated her 64 percent in 2013; the Sierra Club, 33 percent in 2011.[15] The National Rifle Association scored Burkett 92 percent in 2012 and letter-grade "A" in her previous term.[15]

Burkett won reelection in the November 8, 2016, general election with 30,501 votes (55.2 percent) to the Democrat Rhetta Andrews Bowers' 24,795 (44.8 percent).[16]

Personal life

Burkett married her high school sweetheart, Michael Andrew "Mike" Burkett (born c. 1954), a veteran of the United States Air Force. The couple have three children and three grandchildren. She is an active member of Mimosa Lane Baptist Church in Mesquite.[10]

References

1. "Rep. Cindy Burkett (R-TX 113th District)". Texas Library Association. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
2. "Cindy Burkett". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
3. "Cindy Burkett's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
4. "Republican primary election returns, March 2010 (House District 101)". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
5. "General election returns, November 2, 2010 (House District 101)". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
6. "Cindy Burkett to seek re-election to Texas House". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
7. "General election returns, November 6, 2012 (House District 113)". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
8. Leszcynski, Ray (March 6, 2018). "Sen. Bob Hall Wins District 2 Republican Primary, Beats Back Challenge from Four-Term Rep. Cindy Burkett". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
9. Formby, Brandon; Greene, Sydney (March 6, 2018). "GOP State Sen. Craig Estes Ousted; Sen. Bob Hall Defeats Burkett". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
10. "State Rep. Cindy Burkett District 113 (R-Sunnyvale)". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
11. "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
12. "Cindy Burkett's Voting Records". votesmart.org. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
13. M. Fernandez (June 25, 2013). "Filibuster in Texas Senate Tries to Halt Abortion Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
14. "Texas Voter ID Officially Takes Effect, October 21, 2013". The Huffington Post. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
15. "Cindy Burkett's Ratings and Endorsements". votesmart.org. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
16. "Election Results". Texas Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.