Jim Dodson announces candidacy for Dist. 33 seat
JIM DODSON
Dodson, a teacher for 35 years in the Oak Ridge school system, wants to give the people of the 33rd District a voice in Nashville, bringing his experience and ability to work with others to build consensus on issues. He said he has served on City Council for five years, displaying a leadership style of respectfully listening to constituents before making a decision.
“I want the 33rd District to have a representative who truly listens to the citizens of Anderson County while serving in Nashville,” Dodson said.
As an educator, Dodson said he wants to ensure that strong public schools give every child in Anderson County access to an education that will prepare them for a secure future. He said he will fight to bring increased funding for our schools and to keep education funding in public schools.
Dodson has helped guide thousands of young students through their middle school years. The art teacher has given students many opportunities to exhibit their work publicly in the region and the state, helping establish the annual student art show in Oak Ridge called “Through the Vision of Children.” He has supported large-scale outdoor murals and sculptures in public places.
He is an advocate for economic development as a member of City Council and as the council’s representative on the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission. He said he will continue to work at the state level to secure jobs that offer good pay and benefits to support Anderson County residents.
Dodson said he also understands the importance of strong community infrastructure, including safe neighborhoods, affordable housing, access to quality health care, and access to internet.
“I love my community and have invested my time in many ways in the past 30-plus years to make this an even better place to live,” he said. “And now I want to take my efforts to the state level to bring the resources to our area to further strengthen Anderson County.”
Dodson and his wife, Becky Dodson, an administrator with Tennova Healthcare, have a daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Joe Carpenter, and one grandson.
Dodson said he has a strong history of engagement in his community, serving on several not-for-profit boards that reach Anderson County citizens in need, and providing leadership in several community efforts to support the arts and history of our communities.
At the state level, Dodson was appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam to the Humanities Tennessee Commission. He has served as president of the Tennessee Art Education Association and has served on the Tennessee Arts Commission advisory panel. He was a member of the state Art Curriculum Standards Committee for the Tennessee Department of Education.
Among awards, he was recognized as the National Middle Level Art Educator of the Year by the National Art Education Association. He also received the Tennessee Education Association Distinguished Educator Award and the Outstanding Teacher Award at the state Governor’s School for the Arts.
Dodson is a past president of the Oak Ridge Education Association.
During the past decade, he has served as board member, president and director of the Arts Council of Oak Ridge.
He has also served as chair of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, now known as Explore Oak Ridge; as a board member with Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties; and as a member of the Secret City Festival Board.
He also is a member and past president of the Sunset Rotary Club of Oak Ridge.
In 2015, Dodson served as co-chair of the United Way of Anderson County in its annual giving campaign, learning more about the county as he visited the clients, volunteers and leaders of the more than 30 agencies serving Anderson County.
“With support from the voters, I am ready to offer my experience as a member of City Council, as an educator, and as a citizen engaged in my community to serve the people of Anderson County as their representative in Nashville,” Dodson said.