Tim (R) was born in a middle class household where both money and family were tight.  Tim held his first job by the age of 12 (taking care of neighborhood pets when the families were out of town.) He later scooped ice cream, drove a linen truck, ran a concession stand, pumped gas, waited tables and served as a page in the Louisiana legislature, where he first developed an interest in government.     

While in college he worked three jobs (legislative assistant, waiter and dormitory advisor) to help finance his education.

He earned three degrees from Tulane University, a BA (cum laude) in economics where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, an MBA in finance and accounting and his law  degree (JD) with honors.  He has worked as a successful business attorney for nearly 25 years, helping small businesses prosper.

He is the author of three published books on small business and success, Break the Curve – The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint for Small Business Success, entrepreneurship.com, and his most recent Midlife Tune-Up.

Tim has taught business law and/or entrepreneurship at Loyola University, University of New Orleans and Tulane University.  He currently teaches entrepreneurship and business law at Southeastern Louisiana University.

He was elected to the Louisiana legislature in 2003 and serves on the Committee on Highways, Transportation and Public Works, Health and Welfare, and Judiciary. He was named the 2007 Alliance for Good Government Legislator of the Year and has been honored by the Louisiana Family Forum, the St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation, and the American Planning Association.

While in the state legislature, Tim Burns has been able to distinguish himself as a staunch conservative and reformer and a proven fighter for change in the important areas of infrastructure improvement, education reform, emergency response, fiscal reform and insurance reform. 

Tim is married to the former Karen Richard and they are parishioners at Our Lady of the Lake church in Mandeville.