Q&A: TN House District 69 primary candidates talk background, beliefs
Editor’s note: The Dickson Herald asked the candidates in the upcoming state House District 69 primary election to answer the same three questions. Below are responses from the candidates who chose to participate. Election Day is Aug. 4. The Republican and Democratic primary winners and an independent candidate will run against each other in the Nov. 8 election. District 69 includes half Dickson County as well as Hickman and Lewis counties.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES
Jody Barrett
Why do you feel you are a strong candidate for State House District 69?
First, my education and experience of more than two decades as an attorney practicing throughout the district has provided me with ample opportunities to “represent” folks in their time of need and assist them with navigating the legal or administrative processes to obtain a resolution or reasonable outcome to the issue, concern, or dispute that they require my assistance with. I don’t always know the answer to every question off hand, but I know where to look to find the answers. I have been diligent and persistent at digging in and following through until I find the path that leads to a positive outcome for my clients. I will do the same for the constituents of the 69th District. My career has trained me to listen to people and ask the right questions to drill down beyond the surface of an issue to identify the true source of the matter at hand. This understanding and experience will equip me to cut through the smoke and filibuster that occurs in the State Capitol so I can focus on the real issues that affect our District and the people who live here. Moreover, my education in the law affords me a more comprehensive understanding of what effects, both positive and negative, might be caused by proposed legislation. This perspective will hopefully help me to prevent some unintended consequences that often comes with legislative action.
Second, I was born in Hickman County and raised in Dickson County. I was educated in Dickson County public schools. I left to pursue my education and returned when Holly and I were expecting our first child. We chose to raise our family here because of the experiences I enjoyed and the wonderful people that call this area home. There is no place we would rather live and raise our children. My connection and love for this community and this area is genuine and heartfelt. I will protect and defend this District like it was my home…because it is. And God willing it always will be.
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing the State of Tennessee and why?
Many of the issues facing our state arise from our relationship with the federal government in Washington, DC. The paramount concern of every state should be the integrity of our elections and the threat of complete disillusionment and apathy if we fail to take steps necessary to reinforce the public’s faith in the security and accuracy of our ballots. Tennessee should be leading the charge to adopt and immediately incorporate all recommended measures to guarantee that our election results are accurate and reliable…even if that means terminating existing contracts with electronic ballot machine vendors and returning to currency-grade paper ballots. Perception is reality as they say. And the perception is that our election systems have been compromised. If we want the people to continue to be engaged in our democracy and believe that their vote counts, we must be vigilant in earning and keeping the people’s trust in the system.
We must wean ourselves off the federal government’s handouts. Tennessee currently enjoys a $1B dollar budget surplus. We have more money than we need to operate the state. So, let’s take advantage of our strong fiscal position and stop accepting money from Washington with all the strings attached. The Departments of Education, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Homeland Security, etc. all dangle carrots to the states with requirements that we must adopt policies that they demand (and our citizens predominantly reject). We can start with funding our own free and reduced lunch program if President Biden continues to pursue tying federal free and reduced lunch funding to requiring all school systems to provide transgender students or teachers access to the bathrooms of their choice. If the federal government wants to use our school children as pawns for their social experiments, we should firmly and resoundingly reject their money and their policy.
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing Dickson County and why?
Each of the three counties in the 69th District face their own unique set of challenges. For Dickson County the elephant in the room is the inevitable housing boom that is poised to transform the look and feel of the county in the coming years. There will be serious strain on the county’s infrastructure that comes with the kind of rapid growth that other communities around Nashville have already experienced. There will be transportation and utility needs that will need to be addressed. There will be increased demand for services that will impact our first responders and our schools. All three counties are dealing with concerns about what to do with our trash, where it is being sent, and the cost of that. And of course, there will be the litany of social issues and pressure on the justice system that comes with rapid population increases. As state representative I will work closely with the county and city governments to provide the support and resources necessary to respond to the evolving needs of each county and each community throughout the district.
Jeff Eby
Why do you feel you are a strong candidate for State House District 69?
Any elected official requires leadership experience and financial experience. My leadership experience includes 30 years of active and reserve service in the Army National Guard as an intelligence officer retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. When deployed to Iraq, I worked with local leaders on issues facing a war-torn country and interceded with different factions in the community to find peaceful solutions. I also have a degree in finance and insurance and have managed an insurance business for 35 years.
During my deployment time, and the many church mission trips I went on, I realized how underrepresented people are all over the world. When I returned, I decided along with my wife and family that I needed to run for office to provide a voice for people in my community. My first experience was running as a constable. After one term I decided to run for county commissioner. I have currently been a county commissioner for 8 years and have enjoyed providing leadership and solving problems in the community.
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing the State of Tennessee and why?
Some of the issues that the state is facing is: 1) Overturning of Roe V Wade. I will be a voice for the unborn and support any legislation that supports life at conception. 2) Gun Rights. I will support legislation that keeps guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens. I will also support funding for mental health to help mitigate any unlawful gun violence. 3) Public Education. We need to support our public institutions to include teachers pay and benefits. Our children are the future of our community, and we need to give them all the tools they need to be successful. 4) Free Speech. As free speech has been eroding in the last few years, I will support legislation that will protect free speech on social media outlets and internet sites. The federal government has begun an assault on free speech requiring certain words to be considered hate speech. This is a slippery slope to total speech control, and we must pass legislation to prevent this.
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing Dickson County and why?
This next chapter in my life is running for state representative. One of my goals in life has been to represent constituents at the state level. As I have been campaigning, it has been an awesome experience meeting people and seeing some of the issues communities face. I have already met with business leaders in the community to find out exactly what issues they face and talk about ways the state can help their businesses grow and be competitive in the marketplace.
Brian Johnson
Why do you feel you are a strong candidate for State House District 69?
I will bring strong conservative Christian values that will support our community and Tennessee way of living. I enter as a candidate with a different perspective of not being a career politician and giving the same speak and actions. I come from an industry background, having worked in the forestry industry for 17 years and alongside railroad utility products. I will always work hard and represent the district with respect and integrity. My goal is to always be available and understanding to the community. This isn’t a role, I feel entitled to accept or is a stepping stone for me. I’d be honored everyday to represent and be a public servant for this community.
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing the State of Tennessee and why?
The state of Tennessee has been witnessing tremendous growth so with that comes the management of that from infrastructure and also trying to maintain our culture too.
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing Dickson County and why?
Dickson is much like the state in having watched strong growth. We need to assure that growth is being wisely managed and keeping our rural values in mind. I know we have good people working on such matters helping make Dickson a great place to live.
Angela Redden
Why do you feel you are a strong candidate for state House District 69?
I am a strong candidate because I care about my community, I care about people, and I am willing to stand up for the rights of every citizen.
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing the State of Tennessee and why?
The most significant issue I see in the State of Tennessee, as well as District 69, is the growth that we have been experiencing over the last decade. While we want to grow and thrive, we must hold on to our integrity as a state and work to protect our values and the values of all our communities. We must always remember that the three stars on our flag represent three very different geographic areas and cultures while the blue circle behind them is symbolic of the eternal unity of these three sections. We cannot allow growth to lead to the deterioration of our unity as a state.
Because of the tremendous growth that we have been blessed with, we are beginning to experience gentrification. While it is nice to see the positive effects of this, it is important for us to be aware of the negative ways an influx of more affluent residents and businesses can impact our community.
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing Dickson County and why?
The increase in our homeless population is just one example of the negative issues that can come with growth. Gentrification encompasses the economy, health, crime, and social issues–all the things that make or break a successful community. In Dickson County we are blessed with leaders who are working to manage the growth and we can all see the positive outcomes of their hard work. If elected, I will work with leaders in Dickson, Hickman, and Lewis Counties to continue to bring positive change to our communities while protecting the small town values that we hold dear so that the 69th District will continue to be a great place to live.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
Val Sloan
Why do you feel you are a strong candidate for state House District 69?
I’m an engaged and concerned citizen, not a politician. I’m an educator, an artist, and a rural homesteader. Sometimes, I’m a Lyft driver in Nashville. I’m a working class person who has chosen to live in this beautiful area that is District 69. I am truly interested in the health and well-being of all who live in this district as well as making sure that the beauty we enjoy remains as the population of the state booms.
I walked away from my life as a professor to forge an unpaved path in rural Tennessee which gives me the grit and tenacity to be a people’s representative. I’m reaching out to those that may feel their vote doesn’t matter or voting doesn’t matter, because in this state that helped the Suffragette movement ratify women’s right to vote we must exercise that right every single time we can. Most importantly I’m a listener and your advocate.
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing the State of Tennessee and why?
It is unethical and outrageous that the conservative majority in this state for years has neglected education and then uses that failure as their excuse to push for vouchers and private school profits. Book burning and banning is unacceptable in a democracy. If you have conservative values, please ask what the majority running this state are doing for years that keeps us at No. 43 in education and No. 40 in healthcare. It is shameful and immoral that the conservative administration proudly withholds 1 billion dollars to help the people of the state access healthcare. It is unacceptable that TN is No. 1 in hospital closures affecting the rural locations!
What do you feel are the most significant issues (if any) facing Dickson County and why?
This is a dire election where everyone must exercise their vote because issues are bigger than just Dickson to hold onto our freedoms and Democracy. The state population boom will affect all levels of life in this area.
Election dates
Election Day
Thursday, Aug. 4
Early Voting
Friday, July 15 – Saturday, July 30
Voter registration deadline
Tuesday, July 5
Information
For more information about the election or how to register to vote, call the Dickson County Election Office at (615) 671-1146 or go online to dicksoncountyelection.com.
House District 69 primary candidates
Republican primary
Jody Barrett
Jeff Eby
Brian Johnson
Angela Redden
Democratic Primary
Candie Hedge
Val Sloan
Related: The final candidates in Dickson County August election. Here's the list.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Candidate Q&A: TN House District 69 primary
