Why Local Politics Matters

To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com. 

Transcript

Welcome To Benchmark Happenings

SPEAKER_00 0:01

This is Benchmark Avenue. Brought to you by Jonathan and Steve from Benchmark Homeland. Northeast Tennessee. Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, the Tri-City, one of the most beautiful places in the country to live. Tons of great things to do and awesome local businesses. And on this show, you'll find out why people are dying to move to Northeast Tennessee. And on the way, we'll have discussions about mortgages. And we'll interview people in the real estate industry. It's what we do. This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by Benchmark Home Loans. And now your host, Christine Reed.

Meet GOP Chair Anita Hodges

SPEAKER_03 0:44

Welcome back, everybody, to another podcast with Benchmark Happenings. And I'm so happy today to announce our guest, our special star of the show is Miss Anita Hodges. Anita, welcome. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 0:59

Thank you. So glad to be here.

SPEAKER_03 1:01

Well, we are happy that you uh gave us a little bit of your time to come and talk with us today. And so Anita, um, she is the committee chairwoman for the GOP here in Washington County. So Anita, thank you for serving our community. Oh, thank you. It's an honor. It's an honor to do that. Yeah. So Anita, how long have you been serving in this capacity? Eight years now, two terms. It's a four-year term. Okay. And so do you have an election coming up? I do. In August, I'll be on the ballot again for four more years. Oh, wow. Okay. So everybody, we need to get out and vote for Miss Anita Hodges, right? For our committee chairwoman. And you do have an opponent this year, coming up.

SPEAKER_02 1:47

Yes, ma'am, I sure do. Um I've had an opponent both times I've run before, and I'm so thankful that people voted me in two times and I'm looking for a third term.

SPEAKER_03 1:56

Yes, yes. So Anita, tell us a little bit about

Honor Flight And A Call To Serve

SPEAKER_03 2:00

yourself. Are you a long-term Washington County resident? Or I've lived here all my life, born and raised in Washington County. Okay. So lived here all your life. And um, so what drove you to, you know, so many people are like, oh, politics, no, I don't want no part of it. So what drove you to get involved?

SPEAKER_02 2:22

Well, my dad was a World War II veteran, and for eight years before my political career, I I helped the honor flight to take the veterans to DC to see their memorials.

SPEAKER_03 2:32

That is one of the best organizations. We love honor flights.

SPEAKER_02 2:36

Oh, I do too. You fall in love with the veterans, and when they're together, they share stories. One of the gentlemen that I happened to be with, he served under General Patton. Oh my goodness, it makes chills on me even now to think about the the wonderful memories that we made on that trip. And my dad passed away nine years ago, though, and I'm so thankful I was honored to to take him as as a guardian. And then later I I served as guardian for a Korean veteran. And uh this they gave uh their all. And so that drove my passion to want to be involved in in the political realm. My dad had always wanted me to run for an office. So this position came open by a lady that uh had been in this position for 16 years, Sarah Sellers. Okay, and she had health issues, her husband had passed away, and so when she decided not to run again, I decided, well, this must be the thing that the that my dad r would be proud of me for running for because he uh you know, I put that desire in my heart. Then um when I was elected, um Sarah she gave me her, I guess sh she would go on meetings with us. She could still put her on her uniform and I would take her to some of these veterans' meetings and she would give the pledge to the flag. And just seeing this woman's dedication, that gave me a heart to want to be involved in the political room because it put politics covers everything we do.

SPEAKER_03 4:05

Absolutely. It is it it's it's every part of our life is politics, and I don't understand where people have gotten off course thinking that they're not to be involved in the political square.

SPEAKER_02 4:19

That's so true. And because the good people sit back and do nothing about it, that's when people take over that have they have goals that are not associated with what my beliefs are, and so that's why I wanted to step up because I I'm a Christian, of course, and I and I love my uh flag. I it disturbed me terribly when uh some of the ball team started taking the knee to the flag. And that was another time, you know, that really made me get involved too, because if they dishonor the flag, that just puts fire in my soul.

SPEAKER_03 4:53

Mm-hmm. As it should for all of us Americans because of of our country. And I think it's because people don't understand the founding of our of our great nation. Uh it was founded by God on the on biblical principles. Um there's so much of the Bible in the Constitution, and so it's a we we're blessed to live here in this country, and we're blessed to have the president that we have, and I think he's done some wonderful things, but it's really important for people to understand how important it is to get involved in your

Why Local Votes Hit Your Wallet

SPEAKER_03 5:30

local politics, right?

SPEAKER_02 5:32

That's for sure. I I think the Bible teaches us to pray for our leaders and to to get involved. I think it's uh our duty to get out and vote.

SPEAKER_03 5:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 5:43

Uh people in other countries stand in line for hours at a time and even days to vote. It's unfortunate that we take it for granted here.

SPEAKER_03 5:51

It really is.

SPEAKER_02 5:52

And the local politics is even more important because that affects our paycheck. It it affects the with the pay for their firemen, the policemen, our water, our sewer, our schools. And so people stay away because sometimes they'll think, well, just one person's running. Well, I won't vote. But it's so important you do get out and vote.

SPEAKER_03 6:11

That's right. It affects our taxes. Mm-hmm. Oh, big time taxes, yes. Yeah, we kind of had a big bump up in Washington County here recently.

SPEAKER_02 6:21

21%. Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_03 6:23

Uh that that that was that one was hard. Because we uh my husband and I we pay city and county taxes.

SPEAKER_02 6:30

So you're 49% then.

SPEAKER_03 6:31

Yeah, and so it was a big jump. And we're very thankful for the services that we have here in Johnson City and and thankful for there's just wonderful people. But um, so uh committee chairwoman, Miss Anita Hodges, what are what are the duties and responsibilities of being committee chairwoman?

What A Committee Chair Actually Does

SPEAKER_02 6:54

Well, first of all, I will let you know this is not a paid position. It's one that I give back. I feel like the Lord has blessed me, and this is a way for me to give back. And I knew that from the very beginning. Uh, we go to Nashville several times a year, and we meet with other committee men and women. There are 33 men and 33 women across the state. They're elected by their districts, and the district I serve is district three, which covers Carter County, Johnson County, and Washington County. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 7:25

And this is all Republican.

SPEAKER_02 7:28

Republican. Yes, the Democrats have their own committee man and committee woman, but this is just a Republican only, and we only run in in uh the general election in August.

SPEAKER_03 7:37

Okay. And then so um, so your responsibilities besides going to Nashville, what what is it that that you have oversight for? What's your what's your job responsibilities in this?

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Each each committee person serves on a committee, and I have served on the bylaws committee for these eight years. This is where the Republican Party sets the guidelines and and the uh responsibilities for anyone that wants to run for office.

Bona Fide Rules And Open Primaries

SPEAKER_02 8:05

Recently you've heard the word bona fide. A lot of people did not understand what that meant. And in order to run for office in the state, you have to have voted three out of the last four primaries. Okay. And I'll tell put people the simplest uh way to explain my job is that uh my job is to keep all the Democrats off of our Republican ticket. It makes it real simple.

SPEAKER_03 8:28

Yes, yeah, we certainly want to do that. There's been a lot of uh Democrats over the years that have have come under the guise of Republican and won.

SPEAKER_02 8:37

Mm-hmm. They have because we have an open primary state. And this is one thing that the SEC has tried numerous times to send the legislature a uh resolution asking them to please, please close our primaries.

SPEAKER_03 8:51

Yes, yes. So what do you think the pushback is for that, Anita, is that we can't get that closed?

SPEAKER_02 8:58

That's a good question uh that a lot of people ask, but we have legislatures that uh just today I was at a meeting where one was voted for the closure and another one voted to keep it open. Everybody sees that different. Uh I I wish I could answer that question because the legislatures uh that's the only way we can get this closed is for them to do their due diligence in that area.

SPEAKER_03 9:22

Mm-hmm. And the I wonder just it'd be interesting to know why they have the reasons for not closing the primary. It that's interesting to me.

SPEAKER_02 9:32

Um Well, um Sexton, who's the speaker of the house, I heard him say one time, because we have so many people moving into Tennessee, he didn't want to disenfranchise anyone from you know feeling left out or whatever, we welcome everybody into Tennessee. And as long as your values are the same as ours, you should be able to vote. And sometimes if the person hasn't uh had the opportunity to vote the three out of the four uh primaries, then then that's why they they are not allowed to vote. And and like when we elect our state or our county chairman, if you're not bona fied, you're not allowed to vote for that person. And it's important that people do vote, but uh that's his excuse, I guess, uh that I've heard, and apparently other people follow his leadership in that.

SPEAKER_03 10:19

Right. So our specific bylaws here for the Washington County GOP, if um if someone is not bona fied that hasn't voted in the primaries, then um isn't there an opportunity for there to be a for the committee uh woman and the committee man to provide a waiver

Waivers For Candidates And Voters

SPEAKER_03 10:39

for an individual to be able to run on the Republican ticket?

SPEAKER_02 10:42

Yes, that's also included in our bylaws because there's can be a variety of reasons why a person couldn't get to the polls. And uh it depends on those reasons that we listen to these people and understand why they didn't vote. But if we truly know that they're they're um Republicans at heart, that's why I go to all the meetings in the area on in all counties. I serve on their board and I have a vote on each county board, and I see these people and I know they're true, true Republicans, therefore they deserve a waiver. Several people just over in Unicoy County, our neighboring county, they got several waivers there. Um there was waivers given in Johnson County, Carter County, and some of my SEC committee people said anybody who asked them that they knew was a a Republican, they gave them waivers. I know ten in one county. Wow. So I'm thankful we have that opportunity to give new people, especially uh younger people that hasn't had opportunity to vote. We are allowed to give them a waiver.

SPEAKER_03 11:43

Yeah, that that's good. So were there any waivers provided here in Washington County for anyone that that didn't vote in the primaries?

SPEAKER_02 11:52

Uh yes, our current judge who just won, Judge uh Muck, he won and he was given a waiver. Yes, he was, and he was due to get one. Several people asked for waivers, and unfortunately, um I I was able to to give waivers on my own, but I had to have the other county the other committee man uh agree with that or our state chairman. And if the committee man does not agree, our state chairman can step in there. It just takes two waivers per uh of the uh statey state committee man and state committee woman and the state chairman of the party, which is Scott, who is Scott Golden.

SPEAKER_03 12:27

Okay, okay, so he can so he can break the decision between uh any committee man and committee woman.

SPEAKER_02 12:35

Yes, and he did on several occasions, uh-huh. With Monk he he broke that.

SPEAKER_03 12:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 12:41

That was here in Washington County.

SPEAKER_03 12:42

Yeah. And we've got several folks that are running, I think, that are on a running that are Republicans, but we're not provided a waiver and they're running as independents, right?

SPEAKER_02 12:52

They were forced to run as an independent because a waiver was not provided for them. I will tell you that I answered every call, I answered every email, and I've tried to be respectful of all people. They would deserve the right to be heard. Everybody has a voice and they need to be heard. And I

Encouraging New Candidates To Run

SPEAKER_02 13:10

was told that there was a lot of people that did not get return calls, and that was unfortunate. And it it it's disillusionment for these new people that want to get involved in politics. And we need new blood all all always. We need new blood.

SPEAKER_03 13:24

That's right, that's right. I know uh in Sullivan County for the county commission, I was so thrilled that Lakey Derrick, you know, she ran for District 10. Yeah young little little man. She is she is prepared and ready and loaded. She's a fireball.

SPEAKER_02 13:41

I love Lakey.

SPEAKER_03 13:42

She is a fireball. She actually came and we we did an interview with her, and I I've I knew her from Turning Point, USA. Uh, because we had done several events with ETSU at Turning Point and had met Lakey and and I just thought, you know, and she's so firm in her conviction that she knows that God has called her to do this. And she's prepared. I mean, she's taken constitution classes, she's had amazing training opportunities that that a lot of people just don't have, and she's ready to go. And so I'm that when you talk about new blood, those are the that's what gets me excited is people like her.

SPEAKER_02 14:23

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 14:23

That are young and that they understand the the a biblical they have a biblical worldview, so to support our Christian values, right? Right. And then she understands the Constitution and how it's written and and how voting should be according to the Constitution, right? Yes, she does. That is important. And so I would love to see more people aligned that way that are, you know, running for offices.

SPEAKER_02 14:52

Yes, me too. We have a lot of people that are interested in doing, and I don't want to discourage anyone. And if you were discouraged, anybody out there was discouraged, please, please don't uh don't give up. Keep coming to to vote and and coming to see me and we'll do what we can to try to get you in next time.

SPEAKER_03 15:10

You know, I always think about uh because I I love history and uh I always think about Abraham Lincoln. Uh huh. How many times did he run?

SPEAKER_02 15:20

Many times and he never gave up.

SPEAKER_03 15:22

Never never he never gave up, you know, and I always everything in life it seems like that we want or we feel like we're called to. You know, I think there's more against us to c to make us give up. Right? 'Cause that's the easy thing to do. And I think about Monty Fritz that's running for governor. You know, I admire him, his tenacity. He's going from one end of the state to the other. He's working so hard. And he said, you know, God called me to do this. I'm firm in my conviction. He said, 'Cause I surely didn't want to do it.

SPEAKER_02 16:01

I've heard him say that over and over and I admire that so much. And I think of Winston Churchill who said, Never, never, never give up in his speeches. Ah, that's right. He was a good example, wasn't he? Yes.

SPEAKER_03 16:13

And and I'm so thankful to have prominent men and women who um had the courage and the faith to carry on. And that's what we need.

SPEAKER_02 16:25

I believe I believe God has called Trump for this very reason. I do too. It's uh for such a time as this, he was called, and I I support Trump 100%.

SPEAKER_03 16:34

Me too. I do. I do. I think we're so blessed to have him. And I I think you know the midterms are are uh worrisome and I think people need to really get out and vote. But not only in your your um the national election, but also in our local elections. Um so if you haven't registered to vote, um it's easy to sign up and register at Ned Anita.

SPEAKER_02 16:58

It sure is. Uh just go to your courthouse and you can register. Uh there's other places. Uh the Republican Party has the headquarters. We have uh papers there for you to register. So just get out and vote. Just do it. Just don't ever give up.

SPEAKER_03 17:13

That's

Churches Voter Guides And 501c3 Fears

SPEAKER_03 17:14

right. And you know, uh we listen to my husband and I, we follow a lot of great pastors in this country, Jack Hibbs in uh Chino Hills, California. He's an amazing pastor. Um he they they actually have people who can they can you can sign up there to vote at the church. And I know Gary Hamrick in um Leesburg, Virginia has done the same thing. He's another excellent pastor, and they really um they're very bold in the pulpit. Um they they teach their congregation how to deal with the today's culture with a biblical worldview, and we need so much more of that in our congregations.

SPEAKER_02 17:56

We have uh several women that are working on church voter guides, they're going to all the churches in the area. Good. Uh and hopefully our pastors in the area will have these um these papers uh uh these uh sign-up papers where their congregation can sign up if they're not registered. Uh it doesn't matter if you're a Republican or a Democrat or or independent, you still need to sign up. And the pastors sometimes they back away from that because they don't want to lean one way or the other, try to tell people how to vote. But it is important that uh that the pastors get involved to at least make that available to their congregation because a lot of the churches are just silent when it comes to voting.

SPEAKER_03 18:37

They are, they they are. I've uh Steve and I've just been so um really disappointed, you know, here in the area. Um just not seeing that boldness in the pulpit.

SPEAKER_02 18:52

Well, a lot of pastors felt uh that they couldn't talk about politics in the pulpit because of their 501c3. And that's no longer um a s a a problem from them to have. So they need to not worry about that. The the government has changed on that, though. Have no no qualms about that at all. That's right. That's right. And I think God calls these pastors to preach the word. And if you're preaching the word, you're gonna involve your your congregation. You're the leader. Lead these people and Moses led the people, and so pastors get out there and lead your people.

SPEAKER_03 19:24

Yeah, absolutely. I have to say amen to that. I think we have this little bit of church here, Nita. Well, and I know there's some uh some so we encourage people to, you know, to run, to not give up. And if you have to run, uh if you don't get a waiver and you're running as an independent, you know, and you're but you truly are a Republican, we applaud you and and uh keep fighting the good fight. So we have some good independents uh that are running here and and uh for our state senate.

SPEAKER_02 19:55

Yes, uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 19:56

So who Rusty Crow finally has an opponent?

SPEAKER_02 19:59

Yes, but he's running as a Republican. He's not running as an independent. Dan Palgiers is running. Okay. Yes, uh-huh. We have that. And um a lot of these independents are running against their uh commissioners. They were upset with the commissioners who raised their taxes 21%. There were two commissioners that did not raise ta uh vote to raise taxes, and Josh Edens was one. Josh Edens, yes.

SPEAKER_03 20:21

Who was the other one?

SPEAKER_02 20:22

I can't remember. I'm sorry. That's okay. I don't remember.

SPEAKER_03 20:24

I knew I knew Josh Edens didn't vote to raise our taxes, so uh but he's not in my district. Um so um, but anyway. Well, Anita, any last uh closing remarks before we wrap up this podcast?

Staying Engaged And Election Dates

SPEAKER_02 20:40

Well, I just want to say that um my children and grandchildren were another reason why I decided to get involved in politics because I want my my children and grandchildren to experience a free America like I've experienced. And ladies and gentlemen, it's really getting scary out there. All these people that have come into our country, it's a very worrisome time, and we all need to be engaged.

SPEAKER_03 21:05

Right. And we need to band together.

SPEAKER_02 21:08

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 21:09

And stand on true Republican principles and a biblical worldview, right?

SPEAKER_02 21:14

There's power in numbers. Power in numbers. And when you stay away, the people are out there on their own. We need you to stay engaged. Yes. Especially through our churches. My husband pastored a church for 18 years. I've taught Sunday school, I've led choirs, I've played the piano in church, and I I just feel like God has called a lot of people and they're reluctant for some reason. I don't know if it's fear, but fear if you spell it out, F-E-A-R is false evidence appearing real. So don't let fear make you be numb to to get out and get involved.

SPEAKER_03 21:46

Yeah, that's great. Well, I think we'll just end on that. How about that?

SPEAKER_02 21:51

Sounds good to me. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_03 21:53

Anita, thank you, and thank you for s your uh eight years of service, and we pray that you will have another four years. Years of service to our community.

SPEAKER_02 22:02

Thank you, Christine. I appreciate this opportunity so much. You're welcome. So August 16th, or 17th? No, August 6th, excuse me. The next election is August 6th, yes.

SPEAKER_03 22:12

And early voting will start before that.

SPEAKER_02 22:14

July 17th, uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 22:16

Okay, so people get out and vote. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 22:20

This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by Jonathan Tipton and Steve Reed from Benchmark Home Loans. Jonathan and Steve are residential mortgage lenders. They do home loans in Northeast Tennessee. And they're not only licensed in Tennessee, but Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. We hope you've enjoyed the show. If you did, make sure to like, rate, and review. Our passion is Northeast Tennessee. So if you have questions about mortgages, call us at 423-491-5405. And the website is www.jonathansteve.com. Thanks for being with us, and we'll see you next time on Benchmark Happenings.