Mark Burrows’ Platform

Mark Burrows is running to create stronger economic development opportunities for working families, improvements for the health and well-being of women and families, better public schools, and accountability and transparency of state government.

Working Families

We all know that working families are having a tough time.  Mark Burrows is committed to supporting them by promoting greater economic opportunities, affordable housing, and a living wage.  There is also a tremendous need for childcare and, increasingly, elder care.  Individuals and couples shouldn’t have to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet.

  • Jackson, Swain and Transylvania County’s average weekly wages are significantly lower than North Carolina’s average weekly wage.  Further, 20-25% of our children are living in poverty.  North Carolina is one of the few states that has not raised the minimum federal threshold wage of $7.25 an hour (a poverty-wage).  Mark will promote the adoption of a living wage. 
  • Mark will support greater economic growth through focused attention and investment on roads and infrastructure, and broadband needed to support existing and new manufacturing and our growing entrepreneur base that is focused on outdoor recreation and the arts.
  • Between a third and half of our residents have trouble paying their rent or mortgage.  Mark has a strong record of supporting affordable housing efforts locally and regionally and will continue to champion these efforts.
  • Finding affordable and accessible health care is a burden many cannot afford.  Privatization of our healthcare facilities has resulted in less accessibility (or having to travel further) and paying more.  Many of our residents rely on Medicaid or are uninsured. Mark will support greater access to affordable healthcare for all our residents.

Education

North Carolina public schools have long been the glue that has held our communities together.  More importantly, our State Constitution states that students “have the right to the privilege of education, and it is the duty of the State to guard and maintain that right.”  North Carolina used to have one of the strongest public education systems in the US, with better teacher pay and professional development opportunities.  We now rank 38th in teacher pay—and a miserable 46th in beginning teacher pay!  And to make matters worse, retirement benefits are being slashed.  Teachers are retiring early or moving to other states where salaries and working conditions are better. 

  • North Carolina is NOT providing every student with a sound basic education as required by the state constitution.  We are not investing sufficient funds to maintain our existing schools—and it shows. Mark will support providing schools with the resources that are required to help recruit and retain quality and licensed trained teachers, administrators, and staff.
  • Private schools have their place, but there is often little accountability.  Unlike public schools, private schools do not have to hire licensed teachers or provide meals or transportation or services to disabled students.  Mark will support efforts to limit the use of public dollars to fund Opportunity Scholarships (vouchers) for students to attend private schools.
  • Some schools are fortunate to have volunteers and parents willing to help reduce the workload of overstressed teachers.  That is not enough.  Mark will support hiring additional nurses, counselors, school psychologists and other professionals to meet students’ social and emotional needs.

Reproductive Rights

Mark Burrows respects a woman’s fundamental right, with the support of her family and healthcare provider, to make decisions about her health care needs and that of her family.  The US Supreme Court’s decision to reverse nearly 50 years of legal precedent and overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022 allowed North Carolina to pass SB 20 in May 2023.  SB 20 essentially bans all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy (the reality is closer to seven weeks when you factor in the time it takes to schedule not one, but two appointments).  The reality is that many women don’t even know they are pregnant at seven or even 12 weeks.

  • Mark believes that Raleigh bureaucrats and elected officials are not the ones who should be making decisions about a woman’s health care, and will fight to support the fundamental right of women to obtain a medically safe and legal abortion as settled in Roe v. Wade.
  • Mark will support young peoples’ access to age appropriate, comprehensive, and responsible sex education—that includes information regarding abstinence, birth control and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

Government Accountability

Many have lost their faith in some of our basic institutions—including our legislature.  It’s time to hold our state representatives accountable for their actions.  Why should emails of our elected representatives be hidden from the public?  Mark Burrows will work hard to make NC government accessible and transparent.

  • Legislators should be elected by voters rather than legislators choosing their voters by gerrymandering districts.
  • Mark will focus on sound policy and governance that benefits working families—not partisan politics that benefit a few.
  • Mark believes that legislators’ public emails should be just that: public.

Environment

The Blue Ridge Mountains of NC District 119 define who we are, where we live and how we interact with each other.  More significantly, District 119 has more public lands than any other NC house district.  Mark Burrows has a long history of developing and supporting balanced policies that protect our natural resources while working with diverse environmental and business interests.

  • Mark will support state-wide efforts to help counties and local communities seek ways to address climate change to protect not only our environment, but our basic infrastructure that may be increasingly threatened by adverse weather conditions (our homes and businesses, water and sewer plants and service lines, roads, telecommunication, and emergency services like hospitals).
  • Mark will work to reduce the state’s reliance on carbon-based fuels while supporting efforts to diversify our economy and create new jobs while making the state more resilient to economic changes.
  • Mark understands what makes the mountains of North Carolina a special place to live and work. He will support responsible land management policies that seek to balance conservation, recreation, and local economic development opportunities.