Dr. Dean Burke of Bainbridge was sworn in as a Georgia State Senator on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 inside the Capitol’s Senate chambers. Burke was sworn in by Judge Billy Ray of the Georgia Court of Appeals. Observing the ceremony were Burke’s wife, Thea, and Georgia Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, who is also president of the State Senate. Burke became a State Senator after winning a Special Election to fill a vacant seat formerly held by John Bulloch of Thomas County, who resigned in December 2012.