Texas Representative Lon Burnam: Standing up for the environment
by Vicki Wolf

Texas needs more people in government who stand up for the environment. Lon Burnam is doing his part, and he would like more people to join him. “I’m absolutely an environmentalist,” he says. His record of service in the Texas House of Representative from District 90 in Fort Worth since 1997 shows it.

Burnam has introduced and supported several resolutions and House bills to protect the environment, and worked to kill bills that are negative for the environment and public access to the state’s natural resources. Recent examples include, Burnam’s support for House Joint Resolution No. 101, an amendment to the state constitution establishing each person’s right to clean air and water and to enjoy reasonable access to certain natural resources. He also introduced House Bill No. 2934 giving the attorney general the authority to enforce certain environmental matters when there has been failure to enforce a past, ongoing, or threatened violation of a stature, rule, order or permit.

Burnam’s activism and involvement in politics goes back to high school where he volunteered with a zero population growth organization and the Sierra Club. He chose to get a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning because it provides a background in building environmentally sustainable communities.

Burnam’s church upbringing and parents’ activism and stewardship were a real inspiration. “They taught me to respond in protecting the least,” he says. “The creation is not able to defend itself against the aggression of human kind. We need to protect creation and deal with exploiters.”

To protect the public’s access to Texas coasts, Burnam has worked to kill bills that restrict public access to beaches. In 2003, Burnam received the Texas Surfrider Foundation’s “Keeper of the Coast” award for keeping Texas beaches accessible to the public. He says in some states, such as Rhode Island, the public has little access to the beach because much of it is privately owned. “Every block in Padre Island is accessible,” Burnam says.

Burnam says he is very concerned about excessive drilling and its affect on Texas beaches. “I can’t do anything about it when the government is overwhelmingly pro-exploitation and profiteering.”

Other honors Burnam has received for his work to protect the environment include: the “Millennium Conservation Award” from the Texas Committee on Natural Resources; and the 1997 “New Leadership for the Environment” award from the Texas Chapter of the Sierra Club, which is given to an outstanding freshman legislator who displays leadership in protecting the environment.

Also active in peace and justice issue, Burnam received the “Racial Justice and Reconciliation” award given by the Tarrant Area Community of Churches and the ADA award for disability advocacy. He has been the executive director of the Dallas Peace Center for five years.

Burnam has supported the ExxonMobil Campaign that works to inform shareholders about the company’s role in global warming and other environmental issues. “I believe the shareholder campaign is a very important tool,” he says.

Air pollution is the most critical issue facing Texas today, Burnam says. “The air is so bad in Dallas and Houston, I wouldn’t raise a child there.” Polluters own and control State government, according to Burnam.

More people need become active in changing government and protecting the environment, Burnam says. “As a 35-year activist, I am extremely frustrated with the lack of general public’s failure to act. It is painful.” He suggests that people become more involved: “Call decision-makers, write to editors, get involved with organizations, run for office.”

Burnam remembers his father’s words of encouragement: “We’ve lost more battles than we’ve won, but it is important to keep up a sustained effort.”

“Things would be much worse if there were not activists. But if there were twice as many activists, we’d be much better off,” Burnam says.

Burnam lives in a 1913 wood frame bungalow in the Fairmont neighborhood of Fort Worth with his wife, Carol Roark, and their two cats.

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