Kevin Burke
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Kevin Burke
Party
Republican
Election Year
2018
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 71
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Bellarmine College, Louisville, KY, BA, 1973
Univ of Louisville, Louisville, KY, MS, 1978
Univ of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, MD, 1980
WORK & MILITARY
IN State Med Assoc, multiple, 35
AMA, member and delegate, 30
Control Sub Advisor Comm, past member then chair, 10
AFFILIATIONS
Family Health Center, past board member, Clark County CARES
member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
County Health Officer, 27
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Neutral
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Neutral
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.
Neutral
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Agree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Neutral
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
Any teaching to children on sex education in public schools must include all contraceptive methods, and should not show preference to abstinence.
Neutral
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
The state constitution should limit the growth of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.
Agree
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Strongly Agree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
Disagree
I support sanctuary cities.
Strongly Disagree
I support the death penalty.
Agree
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
Parents should be the primary authority in decisions affecting their minor children.
Strongly Agree
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Agree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2010 Democratic Primary, 2012 General Election, 2012 Democratic Primary, 2014 General Election, 2014 Democratic Primary, 2016 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
When the mother's life is endangered.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Greed, tyranny and megalomania come from too much power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised as a Roman Catholic but have come to feel that God has many names and that no particular religion has a monopoly on the creator. I felt closest to God while scuba diving over Australia's great barrier reef seeing such diversity of life or by gazing out at God's creation while standing on top of 13,911 feet tall Mount Meeker in the Rocky Mountains which I had just climbed. I am impressed by Buddhism and its tolerance, pacifism and its love of life and fellow mankind. I have concerns about the hate and intolerance that is promoted by some forms of Islam and feel that our country will remain under threat of attack by such fundamentalists indefinitely.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Somewhat Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I tend to lean to the right when it comes to issues like the benefits of less regulation, less taxes, more efficient government, more responsive government and a strong defense. I tend to lean to the left when it comes to many social issues like housing and healthcare. However, I have a strong pro-life philosophy except when the mother's life is in danger and I feel that the decision should be between the patient and her physician or provider. I don't accept this exception without some concerns that it could be abused but I have to trust the professional judgment of the physician or provider who is caring for the patient. As the national Democratic Party has become more radically left I have evolved into a liberal Republican. It is not the Democratic Party of my youth or of John Kennedy. It is unconscionable some of the positions they are taking these days. I feel completely comfortable running as a Republican.
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
Have the government get out of the way. Too much regulation and too much taxation stifles business growth. Some unemployed will need training so they can develop the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of businesses. Others will need help with their drug addiction so that they can become reliable and productive employees.
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Some tenants of Obamacare are useful such as guaranteed insurability, no lifetime limits, buying insurance across state lines, eligibility for insurance up too age 27 if living at home with parents and coalescing of small groups into larger groups to buy insurance it a better price. We should allow states to experiment with other forms of insurance for their Medicaid eligible population to help identify plans that are more efficient and more effective in covering health claims. I think insurance policies for most individuals should involve some co-pays and deductibles which helps the insured to develop a concept of payment for services and value of services.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
Mostly by getting out of the way. Tax cuts and tax credits help businesses to start up or expand. An abundant supply of affordable energy is an important for many businesses. Programs to expand the workforce also help businesses and the economy.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I was the sixth of seven children in a working-class family in Clarksville Indiana. My parents taught me the value of hard work, determination, integrity, self-discipline, faith, family and economy, that is, how to get the most bang for the buck. My parents sent me to a private high school and a private college where I received an excellent education and eventually became a medical doctor. I grew into leadership at Clark Memorial Hospital and was president of the medical staff twice. I then transitioned to leadership at the Indiana State Medical Association and the American Medical Association where I learned a lot about deliberative processes and reaching conclusions and consensus. For more than 30 years I have been in the Statehouse educating legislators on policies that came from the Medical Association and answering their questions on medical issues. I was a small businessman during part of my career and also have been a hay farmer and quail farmer as well as an avid sportsman.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
kburkemd@hotmail.com and 502 – 693 – 2559
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am retired so I have the ability to serve my constituency well. I have no hidden agenda our motives and I'm not officially backed by any organization at this point. My donations to date have only been from prospective voters who are not representing corporations or organizations. Worldwide, I have seen governments in action and do feel that our founding fathers came up with the best model for governance. I have a number of concerns about our community and these include: the opioid crisis, gun violence, minority health disparities, affordable housing in safe neighborhoods for low income families, affordable health insurance, responsive and efficient government, the need for workforce expansion and training, promotion of tourism including habitat improvement for wildlife and simplification of the process of running for elected office. Please visit my webpage and Facebook sites to learn more about me.
