Determined to run a clean campaign, Burnette re-elected
Saying his religious convictions would not allow him to go negative in his bid for non-partisan re-election as a South Ward (II) alderman, Drew Burnette’s strategy was good enough for a 14-plus percentage margin of victory.
“I committed early on to the Lord, to myself and to my family that I was going to run a positive campaign, and I wasn’t going to get drawn into the negativity and the social media negativity,” said Burnette, who defeated Randal Roberts with 57.21 versus 42.79 percent (1,134 versus 848 votes) following Election Day results Thursday, Aug. 1.
“And I stayed true to that all the way through. I ran as positive a campaign as I could,” the re-elected alderman added.
This was Burnette’s first campaign where he faced oppostion. Appointed to fill the final two years of a term in 2018, Burnett ran unopposed in 2020.
“I put out as much information on where I stood and the specifics of my plans to address issues in the Town,” Burnette said. “I worked as hard as I could at keeping that message positive, even in the face of negativity.
“I think it rang true to voters,” he added.
As for gratefulness, “I want to thank my family for their unwavering support, specifically to my wife, Brook, who’s had a lot going on lately,” said Burnette, a Surgical Equipment Sales representative for the last 20 years. “She was by my side, knocked on almost every door with me.
“And above it all, even before my family, I want to thank the Lord. I committed to Him that I was going to run a positive campaign and that I would win with grace or I would lose with grace, no matter how things turned out.
“And I was ready to do it either way. And I’m just thankful and humbled that it was a victory.”
In addition, “I think this victory is a testament of what we can achieve when we come together as a community with a common purpose,” Burnette said.
“As we move forward, I promise and commit to continue listening to residents and to be a community leader that the residents of the Town of Farragut are proud of,” he added. “Together, we can build on our successes, as well as address our challenges and continue creating a brighter future for the community.”
Burnette and Brook have five children.
(See family photo and news item in Sports, page 1B)
The new Board of Mayor and Aldermen is expected to be sworn in and ready for business at BOMA’s Thursday, Aug. 22, meeting — if Knox County Commission has certified all the voting results.
