Family remains pivotal for Burr

When Richard Burr was elected to represent North Carolina's 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, the Republican promised his family and constituents that, unless Congress was voting, he would return home on weekends to be with them.

This promise, Burr's friends and family say, is one he has tried to uphold faithfully throughout his 10 years on Capitol Hill, one that characterizes his dedication to those he cares about.

Even now, running against Democrat Erskine Bowles for the Senate seat vacated by Democratic vice presidential hopeful John Edwards, Burr makes a point of coming home to Winston-Salem and watching his son play football on Friday nights.

"The Burrs just never miss an opportunity to support their kids," said Dan Taylor, an attorney from Winston-Salem who has known the Burrs for more than 20 years. "It's amazed me how much presence he has had."

Over the past 10 years, Burr has had a significant impact on both Congress and his home community. His N.C. heritage has guided his selection of key issues and legislation during his tenure on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Taylor said he thinks Burr has been an effective leader.

"I think he's represented the 5th District very well," he said. "I think he's smart, I think he works hard, I think he listens."

Burr has been chiefly concerned with the medical and tobacco industries. His most recent legislative triumph was the Oct. 11 passage of a tobacco buyout, which will put $10 billion back into the hands of tobacco farmers suffering from diminishing quotas.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., spoke of Burr's efforts to orchestrate the buyout at a rally in Smithfield on Oct. 19.

"(This bill) would never have made it off the House floor without Congressman Richard Burr's leadership," she said.

Burr now seeks to expand his leadership to the entire state.

His stomping ground, Winston-Salem, is a thriving city of just more than 185,000. The home of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and tobacco company RJ Reynolds, the city has a rich history and a strong sense of civic pride.

Burr grew up in Winston-Salem, where his father, David, was the minister of the First Presbyterian Church. In 1978, he graduated with a degree in communications from Wake Forest University, where he was a member of the football team. He decided to remain in his hometown, accepting a job at Carswell Distributing Co. as a national sales manager.

Burr and his wife, Brooke, were married in 1982 and now have two sons - Tyler, 19, and William, 18 - and two dogs, Boone and Claire.

Tyler, a freshman at UNC, said his father is a dedicated parent who never hesitates to yell out advice from the sidelines when watching his sons play sports.

"When his commercials portray him as a family man, that's being honest, because that's what he is."

In 1992, the family man decided to seek a House outside his own. Burr ran for the 5th District seat and was defeated by incumbent Democrat Steve Neal.

Burr said he was not deterred. Neal retired and did not seek re-election in 1994, and Burr was able to defeat Democrat Alexander "Sandy" Sands and take his seat with the other Republican revolutionaries in the 104th Congress.

And now Burr is seeking to join Dole and former Sen. Jesse Helms as North Carolinian members of the nation's most exclusive club.

Doug Heye, a spokesman for Burr, said the candidate saw a need to run for Edwards' seat.

"Clearly there was a vacuum of leadership in North Carolina in that Senate seat," Heye said. "We've been missing a senator for three or four years now."

Throughout the race, Burr has been encouraged by the likes of Dole and President Bush, whose policies he usually supports.

Burr's campaign Web site proclaims his support for tax relief, protection of N.C. jobs and the improvement of education, all issues that have played heavily in the tight election.

Bowles and the Democrats have put Burr under fire primarily for taking "special interest" money from individual groups hoping to influence his legislation.

"Special interests have a good, good friend in Richard Burr," said Schorr Johnson, spokesman for the N.C. Democratic Party, adding that Burr often has favored his financial backers over his constituents.

But Heye said Burr simply has been an aggressive fund-raiser.

The stresses of campaigning and public life are rough on all candidates, but Tyler Burr said his father will stay true to his family and his state.

"He was raised on good values," he said. "Those are the values he'll fall back on while serving North Carolina as its next United States senator."

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.