James Burke

James Burke, M.D., 51, has lived in Scottsdale for 27 years. He grew up in a small town in Nebraska, graduating from the University of Nebraska Medical School in 1979. He came to Arizona later that year to do his residency at Scottsdale Healthcare. Dr. Burke remained in private practice for 10 years before moving into administration at Scottsdale Healthcare, where he is now chief medical officer. Dr. Burke and his wife Karen, a nurse, have four children, all of whom attend Scottsdale public schools. Dr. Burke’s father and grandfather both served as mayor in the Nebraska town where Dr. Burke grew up.

TDA: Tell us about your career/ background and how it relates to the position you’re seeking.

JB: In my position as chief medical officer for Scottsdale Healthcare, I oversee 1,600 physicians on the medical staff. These physicians are independent of the hospital, but are associated with it. As one can imagine, these physicians have a variety of agendas. It’s my job to bring them together to achieve a common outcome so the hospital can continue to provide excellent patient care. In the legislature,

I am confident that my leadership skills and listening ability will enable me to help develop creative solutions to problems that both parties can buy into.

Also, there are a number of key issues facing the state that deal with health care and improving the business climate. I have extensive experience in both areas. I ran a private practice, which is actually a small business, and now I’m with Scottsdale Healthcare, which is the largest employer in the district. In addition, part of my current responsibilities include oversight of research, so my experience can help in state initiatives to promote biotech in Arizona.

TDA: What are your political qualifications?

JB: I was appointed to the Scottsdale Parks and Recreation Commission in 1988, and was elected president of the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians in 1989. I enjoyed serving, so  I ran for the Scottsdale City Council in 1992, was elected and served four years. During that time I also served as vice mayor for eight months. After leaving office I continued to be involved in the community, serving as chairman of the Scottsdale Education Foundation, and as a member of both the Scottsdale Redevelopment Board and the Scottsdale Charros. I also am a graduate of Scottsdale Leadership.

TDA: What are the biggest issues among constituents in your district and throughout the state, and how do you plan to address them?

JB: The main issues are health care, economic development and K‑12 education.

Taking them in order, first we need to assure there is affordable health care available for the residents of Arizona. I plan to address this issue by looking at risk pools and trying to find mechanisms that will enable smaller employers to offer affordable health care to their workers. Also, Arizona ranks near the bottom in the ratio of both physicians and residency training slots per population. I would support efforts to increase the number of physicians throughout the state and increase access to care. Along with that, I would support tort‑reform legislation that would encourage physicians to treat emergency patients and take on additional patients.

In the area of economic development, I will try to minimize the unreasonable regulations on small businesses. I also would support the biotechnology initiatives in the state and support tax incentives for research and development.

On the issue of K‑12 education, I want to assure that schools –public and private–are accountable, and I support standardized tests like AIMS. I also would work to simplify funding for grades K‑12.

TDA: Tell us why you should be chosen to represent your party in the general election, rather than the other candidate from your party.

JB: I have lived in the area for 27 years and have been involved politically and in the community, and this gives me the experience to be an effective legislator.

TDA: Are you a Clean Elections candidate?

JB: No, I’m running traditional.

TDA: Tell us anything else voters should know about you or your views.

JB: I’m a fiscally conservative Republican and strongly believe in creating a viable future for Arizona by supporting investments that have a return for the community.

TDA: Tell us about your career/ background and how it relates to the position you’re seeking.

TJ: For three years I was an associate at Hamilton, Gullett, Davis & Roman, the political consulting firm in Phoenix. For the past  five years, I’ve been working in politics, public affairs and public policy, working with campaigns and candidates, working on issue‑based campaigns and referendums. I have hands‑on experience at the state, county and municipal levels.

TDA: What are the biggest issues among the constituents in your district and throughout the state, and how do you plan to address them?

TJ: Easily, the top five are: illegal immigration, education, health care, the economy, and water.

In terms of illegal immigration, we need to start by sealing the border before we start talking about any other policies. Coupled with that is enforcing the laws that are on the books. We should prosecute those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants, as well as traffickers–or “coyotes,” as they’re called. We also need to crack down on those providing fake or forged documents that illegal immigrants are using to gain employment and public services. Once we start doing these things, we can start talking about a guest worker program, but I don’t support any guest program that involves amnesty or a pass to citizenship. We don’t need to be rewarding those currently here illegally by giving them citizenship.

Education. Arizona’s children deserve a world‑class education, and we need to make sure the dollars are going to the classroom and not to bureaucrats. This involves consolidation of school districts and removing bureaucrats. To achieve educational success, we also need to lower class sizes and reward teachers who are performing with pay raises. We need to focus more on accountability from schools, teachers, and from parents and students.

Health care. We’re facing a crisis in Arizona. Uncompensated care and frivolous lawsuits are driving quality care from the state. I’m a big supporter of tort reform in health care. We also need to be looking at building partnerships with the medical schools in Arizona to keep doctors here.

Economy. The state’s future depends on our ability to attract and retain high‑paying employers. We need to be looking to different economic engines such as high‑tech and research groups like TGen. These are the engines that are going to produce lasting economic growth. We also need to have a tax structure where businesses large and small can flourish, and to take the heavy hand of government off the back of business.

We need to remain ever vigilant over the state’s most precious resource, which is water. We must ensure the state’s water supply is safe, secure and reliable. The legislature should revisit and discuss a comprehensive water policy for the state.

TDA: Tell us why you should be chosen to represent your party in the general election, rather than the other candidate from your party.

TJ: I’m the next generation of the Republican Party, and we need to send a candidate with a fresh vision for Arizona to the legislature. We’re fortunate to have a full slate of quality candidates, but at the end of the day we need to send fresh blood to the legislature.

TDA: Are you a Clean Elections candidate?

TJ: I am running as a Clean Elections candidate. Clean Elections allows me to spend my time meeting voters and not dealing with the hassles of fundraising. It is very freeing as a candidate.

TDA: Tell us anything else voters should know about you or your views.

TJ: People might be shocked by my age, but my experience outpaces my youth. I believe in public service. There are a lot of people that think people my age don’t care, but I care. I want to serve, as cliche as that may sound.