U.S. Marine Thomas Burke Jr. Bows Out of 2nd, 107th District Races

Bethel, CT — Thomas Burke Jr. wrote the following open letter to constituents in the 2nd and 107th Districts on Wednesday, July 13, 2016.

"Right Now We Need Leaders, Not Politicians

To the wonderful people of District 2 and 107,

The goal of every action I have made in my young life has been to make the world a better place. I have not always been right in that mission. I have led on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, I have led in academia, today I lead in the Ivy League and in our state and nation’s capital. I set out to run for state representative to lead my community here at home. In this mission I learned from you more than I could ever articulate.

But more than anything I learned that we are a nation that needs quality leadership. Not politicians or legislators that ask for money and your vote, but leaders who inspire others to service. My recent trip leading my church’s youth group to Cuba reminded me of my vocational call to leadership and ministry. This is where I am meant to change the world. In the hearts and minds of those who share an abiding faith in the possibilities of making this world a better place.

It is with a full heart that I write to you to inform you that I am withdrawing my nomination in the 107th District and will not be seeking to run in the 2nd. As I have said many times Steve Harding has done a phenomenal job representing the people of Bethel and Brookfield.

After meeting with Steve and speaking on multiple occasions he has agreed to introduce and lead legislation that would provide in-state tuition to combat veterans with PTSD and TBI that may have less than honorable discharges. If his freshman year has shown anything it’s that Steve is a man of his word and I know he will get this done to show Connecticut’s commitment to it’s nation’s heroes. I bow out graciously to a man who I know will get things accomplished.

I will still be filing a complaint with CT Superior Court against the decision that the State Democratic Committee made in regards to my eligibility to primary in the 2nd. We have laws for a reason, laws that I fought for and my friends died for and I believe that this is a case that a judge should decide, not for me, but for others like me in the future. This is why I fought as an infantry Marine, so that one day others I might never met could benefit from my actions.

As of today I cannot in good conscious endorse either of the candidates. I urge each and every one of the voters to turn out on November 8 to make your decision on who you think represents you best. The three delegates that nominated and voted for me at the convention have had their voices drowned out by party rules. You have the opportunity to send the state a message at a critical time. Know that I will be with you and am not going anywhere.

I am not a politician; I have a budding professional ministry in front of me and have been able to do wonderful things in my time at Yale Divinity School. After returning this week from Cuba and leading a group of high schools on a mission trip, my heart was filled and reminded of why I chose seminary at Yale Divinity instead of Yale Law. When I returned home scarred from war in Iraq and Afghanistan it was this community and my faith in God that allowed me to succeed back here at home. I am not trying to evangelize, but I want to be honest to why I feel that it is time I back out of the race. My priority should be to the men and women God has put in my care.

Next week I will again be representing an institution larger than me when I begin my tenure as Chair of the Ivy League Veterans Council and President of Yale Student Veterans Council as I travel to our nation's capital to meet with our military leaders. I have the opportunity to advocate on a state and federal level to get our nation’s heroes into our nation’s elite universities.

My legislative efforts at all levels will move forward indefatigably, as I will be able to lead and fight for what it right, and not for what makes party leadership happy. From day one I have not fought for party loyalty and that may have been a political mistake, but I have fought for unity.

My integrity as a Marine and Christian remains intact. There are some who rather polarize our nation than see us joining together to have our voices and concerns heard. I will always be here to fight for the people who have no voice to fight for themselves. For the refugees who escaped war, for the immigrant who works tirelessly for their family, the senior that can’t get their medication, for the veteran who can’t get benefits, and for the child who goes to bed hungry. I will not stop fighting for you.

With love and fidelity,
Thomas C. Burke Jr."

Image via Thomas Burke, Jr. Facebook