District 1: David Burke - Cypress City Council Candidate Profile Questionnaire

Candidate General Information 1. Candidate full name David Burke Thanks for reading EYES ON CYPRESS CA ~ A COMMUNITY VOICE! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work. 2. How long have you lived in Cypress and what council voting district do you reside in? I have lived in Cypress for five years. I live in District 1. 3. What is the URL for your campaign website? www.davidburkeforcypress.com 4. What are the URL(s) for any public facing social media accounts you may have such as Facebook, Instagram and X? Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DavidBurkeForCypress Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/davidedwardburke/ 5. Please tell us about yourself and your family. I am the son of two public school teachers. I have a law degree from UCLA School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA. I was elected to the Cypress City Council in 2022 and served as mayor in 2025. I live in Cypress with my wife, son (6) and daughter (2). 6. How do you plan to contact voters in your district? Since getting elected to city council, I've tried to make sure I'm very accessible to residents. Any resident can always email me atdburke@cypressca.org, or text or call me (my cell number is on my city business card). I've also hosted multiple coffees and a town hall where any resident can come, ask questions, or share concerns. I try to post useful information for residents on social media. I will continue to be responsive to residents and reach out in a variety of ways. 7. What are the top three attributes of the city that make you proud to be a resident? My family and I were drawn to Cypress because it is a safe city, with good schools, and numerous parks. I believe those are some of the city's best attributes—the kinds of things that make Cypress a great place to raise a family. What I like most about the city is the people. There is a strong sense of community. Many residents volunteer at their local school, at the senior center, with youth sports teams, or through other organizations. From my perspective, there is an overwhelming level of decency and kindness in Cypress residents. That is what I appreciate the most from our city, and I believe that our city council should reflect those core values. 8. Why did you decide to run for city council? I strongly believe in the importance of responsive, transparent government that puts residents first. And in Cypress, I thought there was a lot of room for improvement with our city council. Before I ran in 2022, I watched our city council make questionable decisions that seemed more focused on serving special interests than on what was best for residents. I thought there was a general lack of transparency around many issues. I was concerned that the council was making decisions that would get the city into legal trouble, at significant cost to Cypress taxpayers. And I thought that too often, the council meetings did not reflect the kind of civility and professionalism that our residents deserve. I thought that with my background as an attorney, my focus on putting residents first, and a desire to focus on problem-solving rather than partisanship, I could make a positive impact in Cypress. Overall, I think we've made some important changes and delivered some great results for residents. Crime is down from where it was a few years ago and we have made smart investments to help modernize our police department. We have taken steps to strengthen the city's financial position, including a plan to be able to pay off the city's unfunded pension liability (the city's biggest debt) by the end of the decade. We were able to significantly increase the number of free bulky item pickups for residents. We have improved transparency in a number of ways. And we have moved past the era of lawsuits and drama, to a council that is more civil. I am running in this election in large part because I want to keep those things going. I want our council to stay focused on the things that will make a positive impact in Cypress, and to deliver the kind of government that mirrors the integrity and decency of our residents. And to follow through on the priorities described below. 9. Prior to being elected or appointed to city council have you ever run for and/or been elected to any other office?(Council 2026 candidates that are not current council members can write 'N/A') I previously served on a neighborhood council when I lived near UCLA. 10. What is your official statement of qualification? 11. What does common sense mean to you as a city council member? My focus is on making decisions that make a positive impact in our community, and increase the level of integrity and responsiveness from our city council. Sometimes when considering issues, I make sure to take a step back, and ask, 'will this improve the quality of life for Cypress residents?' I think that type of north star/common sense can be beneficial. 12. How would you approach resolving conflict among your council peers should you be elected to council? By trying to encourage council members to communicate honestly and directly with each other. And encouraging people to listen more and react less. Not just as council members, but as individuals, we should not be in the mindset of automatically dismissing or opposing an idea just because it comes from someone with a different political party affiliation. Keeping the focus on the merits of the issue, rather than on political nonsense, can help with that. Education & Professional Background 13. For this section you can submit your resume and/or a link to your LinkedIn profile. 14. What is your current profession/title and who is your current employer or if you are retired what was your profession/title? I am an attorney, property manager, and nonprofit director, but my primary professional focus is the Cypress City Council. Cypress residents deserve great representation. That doesn't mean just showing up for council meetings, and our outside boards and committees; that means studying the issues thoroughly, asking tough questions, and fighting for what's best for our community even when it's not easy. It means being accessible to residents and getting answers to their concerns. Following through on those responsibilities is my top professional priority. Community Service & Engagement 15. What is your Cypress community involvement outside of your official council member/candidate capacity? I attend and support local events and fundraisers. But my primary involvement comes through my work as a council member. I've tried to show up to as many events as I can to support local organizations and businesses. I represent the city on the Orange County Fire Authority and other regional boards. I have previously also volunteered with the senior center and served as a board member with the Cypress Community Festival Association. 16. During the May 2026 emergency evacuation due to the Garden Grove GKN chemical incident did you assist your fellow community members during the evacuation? If yes, please describe in detail how you helped the Cypress community? During the incident, I felt that my primary job as a council member and the city's representative to the Orange County Fire Authority was to obtain and provide factual information for our residents. I was in direct communication with OCFA Chief TJ McGovern, and other OCFA personnel. I attended multiple briefings at incident command. And I asked questions that residents wanted answers to. For example, a number of residents were concerned about how long the evacuation might last, and whether the evacuation zone might be expanded. So, I directly asked OCFA representatives about the confidence interval in the evacuation zone. I also saw some elected officials putting out inaccurate information on social media, so I made sure to direct residents to accurate information on social media channels. I worked directly with our city manager and my colleagues on the council to ensure that the city was putting out accurate information and was aware of residents' primary concerns. And I was in direct contact with a number of residents in the evacuation zone to ensure that they understood the issues, were able to check on their neighbors, and to answer their questions. Questions for Candidates that Currently Serve on Council or have Served in the Past 17. Is there anything you wish you had done differently (example, a vote you wish you could reverse)? There are times where I probably could have done more to slow down some of the debates we had on council and encourage a break or more time for the group to reset. Sometimes when passionate debates occur, it is natural for people to dig in, rather than try to understand and work with the person they disagree with. So, I think almost any city council can benefit from slowing things down, taking a break when a deadlock occurs, etc. I am proud that in 2026 our council has been more civil and professional than prior councils, and going forward I am excited to continue moving things in the right direction. General Questions 18. What do you believe are the current top three challenges Cypress is facing? 1) Although Cypress is in a good financial position relative to other cities, I think there is a lot of uncertainty in the broader economic climate. So, we need to be fiscally prudent, avoid wasting money on avoidable lawsuits, and plan for a strong financial future. 2) The requirements for additional housing are a significant challenge for Cypress and cities throughout California. I think we need to be more thoughtful and proactive in how we plan for what Cypress will look like in the future, and how to best ensure that we can meet our legal requirements while minimizing detrimental impacts that might come with them. 3) For every city, I think that preventing local government from descending into the partisanship, pettiness, etc. that you see at higher levels of government is an ongoing challenge. When that happens, not only is it a bad look for a city, but it prevents the best decisions from being made. We have made great progress in Cypress, particularly in the last year or so, but unfortunately there are always some people who try to inject partisanship where it doesn't belong, and who are more interested in political games than in serving the residents. One of the reasons I am running is to ensure that we continue to have a council that is focused on the issues that matter, so I'd like to keep that going in Cypress. 19. What are the top three objectives you would like to achieve should you be elected to city council? 1) Get the big things right—ensuring that Cypress is a safe city, in a good financial position, with nice parks and solid infrastructure, and staying out of unnecessary legal trouble that costs our taxpayers. 2) Deliver a higher level of service to residents. One of the things I noticed after I was first elected to council is that a number of concerns from residents were not being properly addressed. For example, there is a street in Cypress that is susceptible to a lot of illegal dumping. It has been known for a long time, but very little had been done to address it. Eventually I brought this up, and we developed a comprehensive plan to address illegal dumping including stronger penalties, more targeted enforcement methods, and a plan for future landscape improvements that will deter dumping in the first place. There were similar issues such as the number of bulky item pickups for residents, intersections that needed a better crosswalk signal, etc. where we have recently made improvements after residents' concerns were ignored for too long. Those little things can add up to a big difference in our quality of life. And there are still a number of improvements we can make in areas like traffic safety, neighborhood beautification, etc. We have made good progress, especially in the past year or so as a council/staff team, but I want to keep delivering the kind of responsiveness that our residents deserve. 3) Continuing to improve integrity and transparency. We have made some strides. We passed laws that will diminish the influence of special interest money in elections. We have improved the way information about our budget is available to the public. We typically put out our city council agendas sooner than we used to, which means residents have more time to review them. But I want to keep things moving in the right direction. Finance Questions 20. What is your position on raising taxes and fees (development fees, registration fees, etc.)? Cypress is in a good financial position at this time and I do not support tax increases. In addition, it's important to keep in mind that the council cannot unilaterally raise taxes. Tax increases would need to be approved by the residents of Cypress through a ballot measure. 21. Many cities in OC are facing budgeting issues. Fortunately, the City of Cypress has been run very well and is financially stable. What is your approach to balancing services to the community against limited financial resources? It's about priorities. There are foundational elements that I believe every city needs for residents to thrive. We want a safe city, with solid infrastructure, good schools, and nice parks and facilities. So those priorities come first. If there is money left over, then you can look at other ways to enhance quality of life while ideally staying within budget and saving some money for future projects. Personally, I am not a fan of going into debt, or not having a plan to pay off a debt, and I try to apply that philosophy to our city. One of the first things I focused on as a council member was addressing our city's unfunded pension liability. That is the city's biggest debt –over $50 million – and cities that let their pension liability spiral out of control can get in real financial trouble. So, I initiated a plan for us to accelerate putting funds toward our pension trust, with the goal of the city being able to pay off our entire unfunded liability by the end of the decade. As of today, we are on pace to achieve that goal, which is almost unheard of among cities in California. So thoughtful financial planning and focusing on the biggest priorities first is my approach to municipal finance. Law Enforcement 22. What are your views on public safety? Public safety is one of those foundational elements that you want in every city. That means not just good crime statistics, but the ability to go for a walk in your city and feel safe, or the confidence that your children will be safe at a local park. Cypress is consistently ranked among the safest cities in Orange County, and I have focused on keeping it that way. We have invested in new police personnel and technology. And we are working on actions to address more specific concerns such as e-bikes as well. I have also served as the city's representative on the Orange County Fire Authority for the past two years. There, I have supported investments in personnel and resources to benefit Cypress residents. Overall, both our Cypress police and our OCFA firefighters have great response times compared to other cities or counties. I am committed to maintaining a high level of public safety through both police and firefighting services. Questions on a Variety of Topics 23. What is your plan to attract and retain more businesses to Cypress? I'm glad you asked! As a city, we are always working to bring new businesses into Cypress. In recent years we have welcomed Trader Joe's, Mitsuwa Marketplace, Rainbow Cone, Bushfire Grill, and many more. But I think we can be a little more proactive about attracting the kinds of businesses to Cypress that offer something new. Maybe it's a kind of restaurant or entertainment option that we don't already have. So as part of our city council's recent strategic planning session, I proposed that we do a type of business gap study—where we identify what's missing from Cypress, so that we can make a more concerted effort to fill in those gaps. I'm eager to hear directly from residents on this as well as receive a thoughtful analysis from our staff. I think that could not only provide more great options for residents, but make Cypress more of a destination, which will help bring in sales tax revenue as well. 24. How would you provide additional programs, services and amenities if elected to council? We have added some new programs in recent years including the S.A.I.L.S. program for seniors, a city hosted pickleball tournament, and more. We also significantly increased free bulky item pickups for residents. And we have made progress on things like getting more trees planted, and utilizing a mobile camera to deter illegal activity in hot spots. Going forward, I think we can listen to residents, try to figure out what there is demand for that is currently not being offered, and see what we can provide to meet that demand. 25. What is your favorite Cypress event? There is a lot I like about a number of Cypress events. I really enjoy the holiday sing and tree lighting because my kids always have a good time. I enjoy connecting with residents and seeing all the different things that come together at the Cypress Community Festival. But perhaps the most impressive to me is the fireworks show at Salute To America. That event and show are legit and it's great that we offer that for free to residents. 26. What will you do to address traffic in neighborhoods adjacent to schools, including aggressive drivers? Addressing neighborhood safety issues, whether it is traffic or illegal dumping, requires truly understanding the neighborhood and taking a multi-faceted approach. The solutions are a combination of physical changes (such as getting red curbs painted, installing stop signs, etc.) and more focused enforcement. For example, on a small scale, multiple residents have reached out to me during my time on the council about driveways that were dangerous to exit because parked cars blocked visibility. So I referred those areas to our Traffic Commission, and ultimately, we were able to get red curbs painted to increase visibility. In another neighborhood, residents expressed concerns about parking issues, and that ultimately resulted in a parking permit district getting created. City staff and I are continuing to work with those residents to consider additional measures to improve traffic safety and considering options to ensure that there is sufficient enforcement of laws. So, in short, it's about listening to residents, and then considering both physical changes and enforcement strategies to make an impact. 27. Do you support the implementation of the Cypress Town Center & Commons Plan 3.0 as approved by the voters under Measure S? I'm not sure if there is a typo in this question, but the council cannot decline to implement a voter-approved zoning initiative. 28. Do you support the development of residential housing in the business park? Currently, I am not aware of any plans to do that. If, in the future, the city needs to consider re-zoning areas to comply with state laws, or if portions of the business park struggle to maintain enough occupancy, then I think we'd need to consider all our options. 29. Cypress's RHNA plan requires the city to plan for the future development of 1,803 units in the Low and Very Low-Income areas. What are your views on affordable housing? How do you believe the city can achieve this objective? It is far too difficult for young professionals and families to afford housing in California. I want that current generation and future generations to have the economic opportunity for stability and home ownership that prior generations had. Unfortunately, the more I have learned about state housing requirements, and the reality of how they play out at the local level, the more I've realized how challenging that is. At the local level, we can do some things to incentivize developers to build more affordable housing as opposed to market rate housing, or consider programs that might assist homebuyers, and I support exploring those options. But, ultimately, I think that the solution to our nation's housing challenges will need to come through more thoughtful, nuanced plans at the state or federal level. So, I think more affordable housing is a worthy goal and we can do our part here in Cypress, but we need better overall plans and better tools to work with if that goal is going to become a reality. Thanks for reading EYES ON CYPRESS CA ~ A COMMUNITY VOICE! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.