Dodds enters race for Tennessee governor's seat

Dr. Brandon Dodds, of Newbern, has announced his campaign for the governor of Tennessee. Dodds will be running as an independent in the governor's race in the 2010 election. [Click to enlarge]

The 34-year-old Dodds' first go at politics will be as an independent in the upcoming 2010 gubernatorial race.

Dodds is the son of Steve and Peggy Dodds, of Newbern, and he and his wife, April, have three children. He is a 1992 graduate of Dyer County High School and received degrees in biology and history from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Afterward, he graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis and is the owner of Dodds Eyecare in Newbern.

Dodds' decision to run for governor was prompted by his disappointment in the way Tennesseans were being represented. Also, he felt there were solutions to problems that weren't being addressed.

He said the whole focus of the campaign is government should be seen and not heard.

"You hear all the time on the news and reading in the newspapers the government saying we need more taxes so we can provide better services," said Dodds. "I would like to see the government more efficient and more streamlined and less corrupt, where they would actually learn how to budget and work with the money they have and represent the people and not their political party."

He feels as an independent he has an advantage over candidates in the two main political parties.

"Working as an independent I could use bipartisan support and draw the best ideas from both parties without being beholden to any special interest groups or party dogma," said Dodds. "They care more about power, staying in office and campaign contributions than they do actually solving problems. They often will fight against a good idea whether they agree with it or not, if it is proposed by the other party. And that's just silly. I offer an alternative to the two parties. I feel that both of them at this point represent high taxes, big government and corruption."

Dodds believes since we are all Tennesseans, we should all learn to work together.

"We all want safety, we all want a good economy and we all want good schools," said Dodds. "It's time we stop focusing on things that divide us and start being united."

As governor, Dodds said his first job would be to fix the economy.

"We need to maintain the jobs that we have and provide new jobs for Tennesseans so they can support their families," said Dodds. "I think we can make Tennessee an economic powerhouse if you put the right plan in place."

The main thing Dodds believes will spur the economy is to lower taxes on businesses.

"Our current tax laws are almost designed to crush small businesses rather than support them," said Dodds. "That's why you see plants closing and jobs moving overseas. We've got to protect our businesses and give them an environment to grow."

A believer in the Second Amendment and a gun owner himself, Dodds said gun owners' rights should be protected.

"One of the most basic human rights is the right to defend your family and your property," said Dodds. "And that right is specifically spelled out in the United States Constitution in the Second Amendment. That would make any federal gun or ammunition ban we keep hearing so much about, unconstitutional and illegal. As governor I certainly wouldn't let our right to bare arms be infringed upon."

Dodds' platform also includes judicial reform.

"Our police officers have the training to fight crime, but they often have to fight it with one arm tied behind their back," said Dodds. "Our judicial system often slaps criminals on the wrist and turns them right back out. It demoralizes our police officers."

Dodds said if the federal government will do nothing about illegal immigration, states must take the matter into their own hands.

"The federal government absolutely has no intention on stopping it," said Dodds. "So if they refuse to do it, then it's up to the states to. Both political parties have shown they will not make any moves in that direction. The Democrats know illegal immigrants are liberal leaning and will increase their voter base and the Republicans realize the big corporations that provide them with campaign contributions want a cheap work force, which they can supplant our native work force with."

A healthcare provider himself, Dodds sees firsthand a need for reform.

"As a healthcare provider I can realize the hurdles the healthcare profession faces and the reasons why healthcare costs are spiraling. One of the main reasons is government regulations and mandates. Physicians spend just about as much time on compliance issues as they do with patients and it keeps them from buying new equipment and having appropriate staffing. It just eats up their time with mountains of paperwork."

As a pro-life advocate, Dodds says he strongly believes in the right to life.

"The Declaration of Independence guarantees us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Candidates from both parties often pander and say they will stand up for the rights of the unborn, but they always conveniently forget to keep those promises when they are elected."

Dodds said if he were elected, he would allow Tennesseans the right to vote on the issue of abortion and stand behind the decision.

He also believes Tennessee has the world's best farmers and they can do a tremendous amount to help the world in the production of bio-diesel.

"I think Tennessee should also become much less dependent on foreign oil," said Dodds. "Eighty-five percent of the world's bio-diesel comes from the European Union, and with our available farmland I believe we can do a lot more in that direction."

The son of a high school principal, Dodds said educational reform is a must.

"Tennessee is blessed with wonderful teachers and the children are our future and they deserve an educational system that allows them to reach their highest potential."

Dodds said his experience as both a businessman and a healthcare worker have prepared him for the job of governor.

"Being a business owner I understand working with a budget," said Dodds. "I understand making tough decisions. I understand what a negative impact that taxes and bureaucratic red tape have on businesses. Also as a healthcare provider it allows me to work with the people and serve the people and listen to them."

Dodds said he plans to campaign as much as possible up to the election. He is able to get the word out about his campaign during speaking engagements in the promotion of the book he has written. The book is entitled "Victory Dance - a solution for Iraq and more common sense foreign policy". The three-part book deals with U.S. foreign policy in Iraq, the Balkans and the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

Dodds' Web site www.doddsforgov.com will be up and running in two weeks.

Dodds can be contacted at 631 West Main St., Newbern, TN 38059; or call 731-627-1100.