Leland Burk

On the heels of District 13 Councilwoman Ann Margolin’s announcement that she will not run for a third term Jan. 2013, businessman Leland Burk announced Dec. 3 that he will run for her spot.

As a life-long Preston Hollow resident, Burk has served as chairman and president of Burk Interests, Inc. , a diversified real estate development and oil and gas investment company since its founding in 1986.

According to the city website, District 13 makes up for about 10 percent of the city’s businesses.

Margolin, who said she will not run for re-election “due to increasingly time consuming personal obligations,” said via press release that she “wholeheartedly endorses Leland.”

“I trust Leland will be a strong voice to control spending while protecting our neighborhoods. He’s smart, dedicated and has a love of our community,” Margolin says.

Margolin’s predecessor Mitchell Rasansky also endorses Burk, whom he says he’s known for more than 20 years.

Burk was also founding director and principal shareholder of First Independent National Bank, where he served on the executive committee, the loan committee, the finance committee and was chairman for the business development committee until the banks sold in 2006.