David K. Burgess (born )http://daveburgessformayor.ca/about/ is a Canadian politician in Brandon, Manitoba, who was mayor of the city from 2002 to 2010. His father, Ken Burgess, was Mayor of Brandon from 1979 to 1989.
Early life and career Burgess was born as raised in Brandon.Mayor Dave Burgess , City of Brandon, accessed 18 February 2007. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba, and operated a family meat-packing business before entering political life.Angela Lovell, "A Mayor on a Mission", Manitoba Business, 1 November 2005, p. 6. He was first elected to the Brandon City Council in 1998, easily defeating two other candidates in the city's sixth ward. He was appointed to the board of the centre Keystone Centre, and spearheaded a movement to upgrade the facility's services.
Burgess was initially an ally of Mayor Reg Atkinson, although their political relationship deteriorated in early 2002. Burgess broke from Atkinson to support a casino for Brandon, and also opposed a municipal smoking ban that Atkinson favoured."Brandon mayor challenged", Winnipeg Free Press, 22 July 2002, A9.
Mayor of Brandon Burgess won a surprisingly easy victory over former provincial cabinet minister James McCrae in the 2002 municipal election to succeed Atkinson as Mayor of Brandon. After the election, Burgess announced that he would support a province-wide smoking ban to remove what he called an "unlevel playing field" between Brandon and the surrounding communities."Province-wide butt ban on table at convention", Winnipeg Free Press, 12 November 2002, A9. He also tried to relax Brandon's strict anti-smoking law in early 2003, but was unsuccessful.Bill Redekop, "Anti-butt law survives", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 January 2003, B1.
In March 2003, Burgess entered into negotiations with Maple Leaf Pork regarding the use of high-membrane technology to cut water pollution from the firm's large Brandon plant.Helen Fallding, "High-tech solution to hog-plant pollution", Winnipeg Free Press, 22 March 2003, B1. He wrote a public letter in support of a second shift for Maple Leaf's facility in September of the same year, arguing that it would create good jobs and be beneficial to the city.Dave Burgess and Steve LeBlanc, "Pork plant jobs benefit Brandon", Winnipeg Free Press, 22 September 2003, A11.
Burgess opposes the principle of urban reserves, arguing that they create uneven market opportunities for business owners of different racial backgrounds.Curtis Brown, "Urban reserves get mixed reaction", Winnipeg Free Press, 12 September 2003, B3. In 2004, Burgess presided over the arrival of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry to their new station in Brandon."Soldiers greeted at new home", Winnipeg Free Press, 29 September 2004, A3.
Burgess has presided over a period of economic growth for the City of Brandon. The 2001 Canadian census showed the city's population as 43,000; Burgess has argued that its population may grow to 50,000 by 2008.Bill Redekop, "'Exciting time' in Wheat City", Winnipeg Free Press, 5 January 2004, A3. In 2005, he called for a more centralized coordination of services between he city and surrounding communities.
Burgess is a less charismatic and more conciliatory politician than Reg Atkinson, his predecessor as mayor.Bill Redekop, "Brandon Mayor may need to shed image as Mr. Nice Guy", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 January 2003, B1. He was re-elected with around 60% support in 2006.
He was defeated by Shari Decter Hirst in the 2010 municipal election."Shari Decter Hirst wins in Brandon". CKY-TV, October 28, 2010.
Provincial politics Burgess is a supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.
References
External links Official city biography