Mark Walker (North Carolina politician)

Mark Walker
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 6th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Howard Coble
Personal details
Born	(1969-05-20) May 20, 1969 Dothan, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kelly Walker
Alma mater	Trinity Baptist College Piedmont International University (BA)

Bradley Mark Walker (born May 20, 1969) is a pastor from the state of North Carolina and a Republican Party member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina's 6th congressional district. Before winning the 2014 general election, Walker had never held elected office. Walker was elected to head the Republican Study Committee.

Early life and career

Walker was born in 1969^[1] in Dothan, Alabama and grew up in the panhandle of Florida. His father, an Independent Baptist minister, was the chaplain of a prison in Alabama, and brought his young son on his rounds. Walker recalled, "I remember the joy on their faces that their lives matter, that somebody took the time to invest in them." There, "he says he learned the lesson of acceptance, of 'looking beyond whatever social background, and just trying to see the person as an individual.'"^[2]

Walker eventually attended Trinity Baptist College for a time before moving with his family to Houston, Texas. From there, Walker moved to the Piedmont Triad. He married Kelly Sears, a trauma nurse, and worked in business and finance for several years.^[3] Walker eventually returned to college to pursue the ministry and attend Piedmont Baptist College, now Piedmont International University, graduating with a B.A. in Biblical Studies. Walker was ordained in the Southern Baptist denomination. His career in ministry began at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. From there he has worked for and led churches in North Carolina and Florida. He has served as a worship pastor, executive pastor and lead pastor. In 2008, Walker started with Lawndale Baptist Church in Greensboro as its Pastor of Arts and Worship.^[4] The Walkers have three children and live in Guilford County.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Walker's 2014 campaign slogan was "People Before Politics." Following the primary election, Walker and Phil Berger, Jr. advanced to a runoff election. Despite finishing second in the May primary, Walker unexpectedly won the runoff election by a significant margin.^[5]

Tenure

In Congress, Walker has focused on education reform, supporting domestic manufacturing, repealing Obamacare and limiting the size of government. He has also prioritized poverty and racial disparities in the local community.^[6]

Walker's first actions in office was to establish the Healthcare, Opportunity, Poverty and Education (H.O.P.E.) Commission for the 6th District and surrounding areas,^[7] determined in a 2015 Gallup survey and report to be the worst community in the nation for food hardship.^[2]

In 2015 Rep. Walker introduced the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success (APLUS) amendment to the Student Success Act.^[8]

HB2 Controversy

Rep. Walker is a proponent of North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act ("HB2"), a controversial piece of legislation^[9] which was read, amended, passed and signed in a matter of hours on March 23, 2016.^[10] On March 28, 2016, as businesses and local governments began registering opposition to HB2, Walker tweeted, "I'm growing weary of the big business and corporate bullying over HB2."^[11] At a prayer breakfast on April 12, Walker expressed his opinion that the dismay and outrage over HB2 were "part of a calculated strategy to retake control of the Senate, turn the state blue, and establish a base of support for the [2016] presidential election."^[12]

2014 Remarks on Border Security and War with Mexico

During his 2014 campaign, at a Tea Party forum in Rockingham County, North Carolina, Walker was asked if military force was appropriate along the US-Mexican border. He stated that the National Guard might be necessary to secure the border.^[13] He added, "...if you have foreigners who are sneaking in with drug cartels, to me that is a national threat, and if we got to go laser or blitz somebody.. I don’t have a problem with that either." The moderator then asked if he had any qualms about starting a war with Mexico. Walker responded jokingly, "Well, we did it before, if we need to do it again, I don't have a qualm about it."^[14][15] Later, Walker met with the editors of the Greensboro News & Record to tell them, "Being someone who is not a career politician, I’ve learned there are different environments that are a little more heated in context. And when you walk into those by proxy, you have to be very concerned as well as being very upfront about what your positions are because you can be guided very easily."^[16]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
  • Subcommittee on Transportation Security
• Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
  • United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Information Technology
• United States House Committee on House Administration

References

External links

• Official House website
• Mark Walker for Congress
• NC Lawmakers Make GQ's List of 20 Craziest Politicians
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress