Congressman mark walker representing north carolinas sixth district. A baptist minister and former car salesman. The first elected office you have ever held. How did you decide to run for a seat . Rep. Walker there were a lot of experiences that played into that. I spent the last 15 years as a baptist pastor in north carolina. A lot of parallels. What will serve you better, faith or salesmanship . Rep. Walker i think genuineness is paramount. That is one of the reasons we are seeing some of the leaders we are seeing today. They have the ability to talk about policy in a genuine manner. How did you prepare to become a congressman . Ran strictly with no political experience whatsoever. I did not have the Political Capital or political connections. I spent time in inner cities in cleveland, new york, and baltimore to try to build relationships that may not always agree with us politically ideology wise, but understanding that the relationship always comes before policy. When you build gen
Lead pastor, the senior pastor. I served as the executive pastor. Ive also spent time as a music and worship pastor, i wrote and directed the greens borough greensboro christmas spectacular. About a 400 person cast. It stays in line with the overall christmas message. I walked away about a year and a half ago. How much are you still involved in ministry . Rep. Walker i try to get back home every weekend. We attend a Church Called Mercy Hill Church in greensboro. I go and fill in if there is a vacancy. I enjoy that and still find that very rewarding and fulfilling. If you could pass one piece of legislation, what would it be . Rep. Walker i think it would be a balanced budget. I think people have reached a place where they want to see us get back to where we were 20 years ago, the last time we passed a balanced budget. Americans want washington to be fiscally accountable. If we have to do it as individuals and families, i think we should have to do it. What makes you a republican . Rep.
Walk over, what i referred to as the greatest temple, spiritual place, of selfgovernance in the evolution of the human species. That is for better and worse. All of these offices are amazing. The difference of here in california is that i am a freshman member here. Im in the minority. In california, i was one of 120. Both members of parties trusted me. Here is more of a struggle culturally to get things done and because of my position. First of all, when pope francis came to the u. S. Capitol, as a catholic member of congress, what was that like for you . Rep. Desaulnier it was very inspiring. I went to high School Boarding school, the jesuits, in college. I feel a very strong affection for the jesuits. I started a caucus friends of just who it just jesuits institutions just institutions. I have not been a practicing catholic for many years because i think the Catholic Church got carried away with dogmatic issues. I think the social gospel is something we should practice every day, whe
This is the first Elective Office you have ever held. Rep. Mark walker out of college i did spend a little time in sales. I spent the last 15 years as a baptist minister. Seeing what it takes to build better relationships. Genuineness is what needs to be here to matter what your vocation is. Paul ryan who have an ability to talk about policy but can do it in a very genuine way. I ran strictly with no political experience whatsoever. Didnt have the political connections. What we did have was something that crossed community lines. I spent time in the inner cities. New york and baltimore. Trying to build these relationships that werent always consistent ideology wise but knowing that the relationship always comes before the policy. When you build the relationships that you can share what you believe. What i would tell somebody who wants to be in congress is to follow your heart. Many people told me this was impossible and i shouldnt do this. But i believed it was something i was being le
In this next congressional freshmen profile interview, mark walker talks about his 2014 campaign when he defeated several betterknown and wellfunded candidates and he also talks about his time as a baptist minister. This is 20 minutes. Congressman mark walker representing north carolinas sixth district. A baptist minister and former car salesman. This is the first elected office you have ever held. How did you decide to run for a seat . Rep. Walker there were a lot of experiences that played into that. I spent the last 15 years as a baptist pastor in north carolina. A lot of parallels. What will serve you better, faith or salesmanship . Rep. Walker i think genuineness is paramount. That is one of the reasons we are seeing some of the leaders we are seeing today. They have the ability to talk about policy in a genuine manner. How did you prepare to become a congressman . Rep. Walker i ran strictly with no political experience whatsoever. I did not have the Political Capital or political