Jerry Burton

Teachers: Sharon Burton, Angie Kircher, Karen Mickle, Jerry Burton

Democrats also are fielding retired educator Jerry Burton of Inwood to fill the seat being vacated by retiring 53rd District Del.
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Burton lost to Roberts in 2004.

Jerry Burton, 57, and 22-year-old Jonathan Miller each said they have a variety of benefits to bring to the office, if elected on Nov. 7.
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Jerry Burton spent his career as a teacher, and even now that he is retired, he has returned to the classroom.Still, he said he's hoping for a new title and a chance to help shape the lives of West Virginia's children by serving in the state's House of Delegates.

The retired educator has made a bid at the 53rd Delegate District seat, and it's his second attempt at the office.During the last election, Burton ran for the spot but was defeated by Delegate Vic Roberts, R-Berkeley.
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Burton said he grew up in a farming community in Michigan and started working at an early age.Eventually, he became a teacher in Berkeley County and a member of the Army Reserves.He's also spent summers working as a carpenter and antique dealer.

These experiences taught him many things, he said, including a belief in the working people.And he's also gained a firsthand knowledge of the problems plaguing schools in the Eastern Panhandle, he said.

Burton taught in West Virginia's schools for 33 years and then retired.But a shortage of teachers in the area forced him out of retirement this year.He signed a contract to teach math, he said.

Fixing the retention problems in local schools is one of his top priorities.It could be pivotal in determining the state's future, he said.

"I think the state has to grow," Burton said in an earlier interview.

Jerry Burton, left, and Jonathan Miller, candidates for the 53rd District of the House of Delegates, debate Wednesday evening. (Journal photo by Martin B. Cherry)
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Wednesday evening, candidates Jerry Burton and Jonathan Miller faced off in a debate at Musselman Middle School, which was sponsored by The Journal and WEPM.
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Burton, a Democrat and longtime educator, said he saw things differently, though.He agreed that more money needs to be brought back to the Eastern Panhandle but questioned whether Miller's suggestion would solve all of the problems facing local teachers.

"I don't think we need to give up the fight for locality pay," Burton said.

Other funding for education could also go a long way.Financial bonuses could help lure math, science and special education teachers to the area, he said.

"These are where we're really suffering," Burton said.
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Again though, Burton disagreed.The legal climate was not as bad as it had once been, he said.The real solution was the creation of the infrastructure that businesses needed.He suggested that the availability of important infrastructure like high speed Internet and adequate roads would go a long way in bringing business to the Eastern Panhandle.
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However, Burton said he saw his years of work experience as an asset.For years, he worked as a teacher, a carpenter and painter.He is a military veteran and has worked as many as three jobs at a time.He said he understands the needs of West Virginia's working people.

MARTINSBURG - Jerry Burton, a retired educator, is hoping that his knowledge of area schools will come in handy if he is elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates this year.

Burton, a Democrat, filed papers this week to run for the 53rd District.
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There are other issues that need to be addressed as well, Burton said.He's concerned about area roadways and wants to make sure that growth related issues are addressed.The environment is also a priority, as well as the monopoly which he believes the county's current solid waste hauler has on local business.

Though taking office will be a change from his job as an educator, he said he's ready for the challenge.

'I love to teach, but I still want the chance to be a delegate,' he said. 'It's something that I've always wanted to do.
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Burton is a member of the Retired Teachers Association.He is also active in the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.He served in the Army Reserves and was in Desert Storm for seven months, he said.