Meet David

Growing Up and Education

David Burke is a native Southern Californian and the son of two public school teachers. Growing up, David was a student-athlete who balanced academic achievement with his love of sports, playing soccer, baseball, basketball, and volleyball while earning exemplary grades. After getting his B.A. in Political Science at UCLA, David pursued a passion for American government that dates back to the days on his high school Constitution Team by getting a job with the United States House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means.

After working in Congress David earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law, where he won awards as the best attorney in the Aiken Gump Mock Trial Competition and for outstanding oral advocacy in the school’s Moot Court Competition. In his spare time David worked as a SAT and LSAT instructor to help students achieve their dreams of attending college and law school.

Legal Advocacy and Business Success

Since the beginning of his legal career, David has used his knowledge and skills to help others. While in school David worked with the Los Angeles City Attorney to help prosecute slumlords who were guilty of code violations. He also worked at the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, going after corporations that were illegally taking advantage of consumers. After graduating from UCLA School of Law and becoming an attorney, David clerked for two Los Angeles Superior Court judges to ensure that law was applied fairly and correctly. Subsequently, David worked as a legal advocate for animals that were victims of inhumane treatment and cruelty.

In addition to his work as an attorney, David has been an entrepreneur for over twenty years. He started his first business venture while still in high school, turning his childhood hobby of collecting baseball cards into an online business. While practicing law David started a successful event production company where he oversaw a six figure budget and managed over 50 staff members and volunteers. David also runs a property management business.

Fighting For Good Government

In 2016 David founded Citizens Take Action, a nonprofit that is committed to getting big money out of politics and creating more responsive, transparent government. Alongside other organizations and community leaders, Citizens Take Action has fought for and helped win enhanced disclosure of campaign spending in state elections, and strengthened publicly financed elections in Los Angeles. In his time with Citizens Take Action, David is proud to have worked with both Republicans and Democrats to pursue shared goals and logical solutions.

To improve government in cities throughout Orange County, in 2022 David authored “Integrity In Local Government: A Report Card on Campaign Finance Laws and Transparency in Orange County Municipal Government.” The report card assesses every city in Orange County on the strength of their campaign finance laws and transparency of campaign finance data. The goal of the report card is to encourage voters and elected officials to support safeguards that protect local government from undue influence by wealthy donors and special interests, and to make it easier for voters to access vital information about the money behind political campaigns.

Family and Community

In addition to his work with Citizens Take Action, David has been an active community leader. He served on the Westwood Neighborhood Council after graduating from UCLA School of Law, and is an alumnus of the New Leaders Council. David is currently on the board of the Cypress Community Festival and volunteers at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. In Cypress, David has been an outspoken advocate for more transparency in government, and for improved communication between elected officials and residents.

David lives in Cypress with his wife Courtney and son Adam, with whom he has visited virtually every park in the area so Adam can enjoy the swings and slides. In his free time David plays softball, hikes, and is an avid reader and writer. David and his family feel fortunate to call Cypress home and are excited to build a brighter future for the city.

Join Team David.

By providing your phone number you agree to receive texts or calls from David Burke for City Council 2022.