As unsuited, unprepared and unqualified as Charles Walker Jr. is to run for Congress from Georgia's new 12th District, Max Burns is every bit the opposite.
Burns, a university professor from Georgia Southern, is rock-solid. His presence is statesmanlike. His command of the issues is overwhelming. His resume might as well be the job description for a new congressman.
He graduated from high school with honors. He holds one degree from Georgia Tech and two others from Georgia State. He was a senior Fulbright Scholar to Sweden in 1993. He has taught in Australia, New Zealand and Korea. He has been a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Corp.
Mr. Burns has served as a deacon, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves and a youth coach and high school football referee. He is a former Screven County commissioner and chairman of the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism Region 1 Advisory Council.
He also has deep ties to farming and small business, living on a family beef and timber farm. He developed the Southern Suppliers Network to connect small business suppliers to major manufacturers in the region.
With MAX BURNS' experience in academia, few candidates could be as qualified to represent Georgia's higher-education interests in Washington. As a professor of Information Systems, for instance, Burns can help accelerate Georgia's entry into high-tech "distance" learning.
One of Burns' priorities will be to develop the state's highway system which, particularly outside of Atlanta's shadow, has been sorely neglected. He favors the Savannah River Parkway as a full interstate, which would link I-85 to Athens, Augusta and Savannah. He also pledges to push the Fall Line Freeway to link Augusta to Macon and Columbus, and to intersect the Savannah River Parkway.
This isn't just highways Burns is talking about. It's economic development. It's jobs.
While in Congress, Burns also will support desperately needed federal tax reform - including elimination of the Internal Revenue Service.
He is thoughtful, eminently educated and distinguished in manner. His background is something of a primer for Congress. And when he speaks, he singlehandedly raises the level of discourse.
We're truly fortunate that someone of Max Burns' qualifications would consider running for Congress.
Voting for someone of his intellect should be a no-brainer on Nov. 5.
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