John Hodgson

John Hodgson was born in Fort Worth, Texas. Hodgson earned a B.S. in industrial engineering from Texas Tech University in 1984 and an M.S. in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2007. His career experience includes working as the president of Bigfoot Strategies, the operations director for Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin's (R) administration, and the division manager of aircraft maintenance planning and technical publications with UPS Airlines.[1][2]

Hodgson has served as the policy director of the Kentucky board for Americans for Election Integrity, the chair of the Fisherville Area Neighborhood Association, the president of the Louisville Tea Party, and the legislative district 36 chair of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has been affiliated with the Louisville Arena Authority Board, the Kentucky Capital Planning Advisory Board, the Kentucky Program for Agricultural Conservation Easements Board, the Kentucky Environmental Education Council Board, and the Align America Board.[1][2]

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our American self-government started with this statement in 1776:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"

Faith, Family, & Freedom are best protected by a Constitutionally limited government and legislators who are committed to holding the line against government encroachment on our God-given rights. Other government functions need to be effective and tax-efficient, but protecting our rights as free citizens is paramount!

I will always stand on these principles with you, while seeking efficient, responsive government policy and economic development for Kentucky taxpayers.[Born and raised in Texas, where both parents were stationed in WWII as military pilots.

Moved to Kentucky with UPS in 1985, residing in eastern Jefferson County.

Married 33 years to Robin, with two adult children, and a new grandson!

Retired after 32 years at UPS Airlines in senior leadership positions in engineering, IT, logistics, strategic planning, and fleet operations. Focus on problem solving, cost cutting, and operational efficiency.

BS Industrial Engineering – Texas Tech

Master Aeronautical Science – Embry-Riddle

Post-graduate work in Public Policy – Liberty University

Certified Systems Integrator, Professional Engineer (PE)

Senior staff advisor in the Bevin Administration (Operations Director), focus on “Red Tape Cutting”Civic/Volunteer Involvement:

Louisville Arena Authority Board (former)

Kentucky Capital Planning Advisory Board (former)

Kentucky Program for Agricultural Conservation Easements Board (former)

Kentucky Environmental Education Council Board (former)

Americans for Election Integrity – KY (former Policy Director)

Fisherville Area Neighborhood Association (former Chair)

Louisville Tea Party (former President)

Jefferson County Republican Party (former LD 36 Chair)

SeniorCare Experts Inc (former Chair)

Bethel Christian Mission Inc. Jamaica (former Chair)

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Protecting citizen's electronic privacy from government and big business. Shrinking the size, scope, cost, and intrusiveness of government. Protecting citizens from violent crime and a currently failing criminal justice system. Election integrity improvements. Protecting Kentucky from the disastrous effects of illegal immigration on our schools, hospitals, job market and housing market. Protecting citizens from uncontrolled suburban development.

John Hodgson did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Texas, where both parents were stationed in the military during WW2. I transferred to Kentucky in 1985 with the UPS expansion, and have lived in several areas of eastern Jefferson County ever since. My lovely bride of 30 years, Robin, is a retired teacher who volunteers as a fitness instructor at our church. Both our kids are grown, graduated from Kentucky colleges, married, and out of the nest.

I retired from a great 32 years at UPS Airlines, working in senior leadership positions in engineering, IT, logistics, strategic planning, and fleet operations. My focus was on problem solving, cost cutting, and operational efficiency. My educational background is: a BS in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech, a Master's in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle, and some post-graduate work in Public Policy at Liberty University, along with certifications as Certified Systems Integrator (CSI), and a KY Professional Engineer (PE).

After being in the private sector my whole life, I spent an eye-opening 4 years in Kentucky state government, working as a senior staff advisor (Operations Director) for Governor Bevin, focused on “Red Tape Cutting” to make state government more efficient and cost effective. I currently am involved in public service as a volunteer on a number of government, community and non-profit boards.

I love Kentucky, a land of natural beauty, and hope to spend the rest of my life here, enjoying the outdoors, farming, and gardening

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Faith, Family, & Freedom are best protected by a Constitutionally limited government and legislators who are committed to holding the line against government encroachment on our God-given rights.The limited functions of government need to be as lean, efficient, and responsive as possible; I will be a watchdog for the hard working taxpayers of Kentucky.Economic growth is essential for the future of Kentucky. Government needs to get burdensome regulations and "red tape" out of the way of small business to empower them to thrive and create jobs to boost our economy.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

- Protecting the God-given rights of the people from government encroachment at all levels, especially protection of life, the right of self-defense, free speech, and privacy

- Reducing waste, excess and corruption in taxpayer funded programs and government contract processes

- Promoting economic development by getting useless and outdated government regulation out of the way of businesses

- Ensuring election integrity in Kentucky

- Conservation and protection of Kentucky's natural resources via best management practices

- Enabling and supporting local small agriculture and gardens, "farm-to-table" programs, and "freedom to farm" regulatory reform

- Empowering the faith-based communities to assist our most vulnerable citizens and neighbors

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I try to follow the examples set by Jesus Christ, my dutiful Marine Corps father, the Great Communicator Ronald Reagan, and a number of the American Founders whose work I have studied closely in the last few years. I am still amazed at the level of commitment it took for them to jeopardize their "lives, fortunes and sacred honor" for the cause of American liberty.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

- doing what you promise

- being truthful

- values deeply rooted in the Constitution

- moral philosophy that aligns with natural law

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

- protect the Constitutional rights of all citizens

- represent the interests of the home district in allocation of tax resources

- prevent government over-reach and encroachment via excess regulation

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of empowering Kentuckians to engage fully in self-governance, taking their rightful role in running their own affairs and state affairs without unnecessary interference from government.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I shook hands with candidate Richard Nixon when I was 7. Watergate and impeachment 7 years later were a crushing disappointment to me as a young man. I have no use for dishonest politicians.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked mowing grass, landscaping and construction all through Jr High, High School and College, 14 years total. This introduced me early to business relationships, banking, contracts, dealing with customers, management of people and tasks, and deadlines.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible. It is the "users manual" for life.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

A governor has the "bully pulpit," and can set the tone for a legislative agenda as a visible leader of the people. However, it is strictly up to the legislature to pass the laws. I a firmly opposed to governance by executive order that usurps the constitutional role of the legislature.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

The $60,000,0000,000 + unfunded pension liability will sink the state if we cannot grow economically, and increase the tax base to cover the state's legal obligations. Non essential tax expenditures must be reduced or eliminated.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

The Founders sought checks and balances in Federal government and most state governments to prevent any one part from becoming too powerful. The House is more the immediate voice of the people, being elected every 2 years, and the Senate is a smaller, more deliberative body elected every 4 years (in Kentucky). The two provide a good balance. Unicameral legislatures may be effective in less populous states, that have only population equivalent to that of a large city (which typically has a unicameral council of some type).

It is important in either case for voters to have a direct line of sight and communication with their elected representatives - close enough to see them in the community on a regular basis, and discuss the issues of importance.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

A little experience is usually helpful, just to avoid painful mistakes from incorrect or naive assumptions in the first year of service. Too much experience is a detriment, as people become set in their ways, and bound by habit and invisible restraints from their experiences.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Definitely. It takes 51 votes to get anything done in the Kentucky House, nobody knows everything, and you have to have trusting relationships with folks to reach agreement and get a good bill passed.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

A process carried out after the decennial census by the most recently elected Legislature, with some fairly restrictive rules to prevent excessive gerrymandering. There is no perfect solution, all solutions will advantage some and disadvantage others. Districts should be geographically compact, and make sense in their boundaries, like keeping counties whole, and dividing districts along natural barriers like rivers and major interstates, etc.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Savannah Maddox

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

no

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Powers should be granted only on a very temporary basis, with swift oversight to contain an executive who abuses the privilege.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

It takes 51% to get anything passed. Nobody gets everything they want, especially when it comes to allocation tax funds. That being said, I would never compromise moral or constitutional principles just to get a bill passed. I would vote