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With a military base, college communities and rural counties all part of Missouri's 5th Congressional District, former Boone County Clerk Taylor Burks argues his professional experience has prepared him to represent the district in Congress.
Burks is seeking the Republican nomination for Missouri's 5th Congressional District. He said he is the only major candidate from mid-Missouri and believes his military service and government experience have given him the leadership skills necessary to represent the district in Congress.
Burks has three children, whom he and his wife are raising in rural Boone County. He said living in the country has allowed his children to experience the same rural upbringing he had on his family's cattle farm in the Ozarks, reinforcing his connection to the district's agricultural communities.
“I think experience outside of politics matters,” Burks said. “There is no other candidate in this race who can represent the values and diversity of interests in this district like me.”
Burks is a 19-year Navy veteran who has completed several overseas deployments. He said his military service makes him the ideal candidate to represent the 5th Congressional District because it includes Whiteman Air Force Base.
“Serving as a commander in the Navy gives me a unique perspective on the national security threats facing our country,” Burks said.
In 2017, Burks was appointed by former Gov. Eric Greitens to fill a vacancy as Boone County Clerk. He noted that he was the first Republican to hold the position in the largely Democratic county.
In that role, he was responsible for overseeing elections and county administration in Boone County, home to Columbia, the state's fourth-largest city. He said his connection to Columbia resonates with Warrensburg residents because both communities are college towns.
Following his term as county clerk, Burks worked for the Missouri Department of Labor in Jefferson City for about three years. He also ran for Missouri's 4th Congressional District in 2022 but did not win the Republican nomination.
As he campaigns for Congress again, Burks said it is important to have someone who understands both rural and urban voters. Because of his background, he believes he is the candidate best suited for that role.
“I was looking around, and I didn’t see another candidate who had that ability or to represent the totality of the district,” Burks said. “So that is what inspired me to enter the race.”
Burks said affordability is one of his top priorities because it affects everyone. He said his experience as county clerk taught him the importance of monitoring government spending and maintaining a responsible federal budget.
As Boone County Clerk, Burks said he gained firsthand experience with election administration. He said the position taught him about running elections, training poll workers and ensuring election security.
“If we are concerned about protecting democracy . . . we need to ensure safe and secure elections,” Burks said. “I am the guy who knows what [election integrity] takes firsthand.”If elected, Burks said he would seek assignments on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, which he believes are critical for the district. He said those committees would allow him to advocate for Whiteman Air Force Base and the district's rural communities.
Burks said he has visited every county in the district and argued that one of the biggest problems in politics is elected officials who fail to communicate with constituents. Drawing on his experience as county clerk, he said meeting with voters can help ease tensions and build trust.
“Even when I knew people disagreed with my decisions, I still showed up,” Burks said. “I may not have won their vote, but I certainly cooled down the temperature.”
Burks said he has extensive experience working with Democrats as county clerk. He said many of the issues before Congress are bipartisan and that he would work to connect with voters regardless of political affiliation.
“I have experience both as a farm kid and rural voter, as well as representing people in a college town in a blue area,” Burks said. “I think that qualifies me to be the next congressman.”
To learn more about Burks and his campaign, voters can visit burksforcongress.com or the Taylor Burks for Congress Facebook page.
