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Hodge Priorities for Newton:

 
  1. Grow the tax base to reduce the tax burden on citizens and businesses.
  2. Create jobs for Newton citizens.
  3. Recruit and retain businesses to revitalize Newton.
  4. Pave roads and repair sidewalks in Newton in a timely manner.
  5. Make conservative and careful financial plans/decisions for funding.
  6. Provide water, sewer and electricity to Newton taxpayers at reasonable rates.
  7. Provide Newton citizens a safe place to live, work and play.
  8. Cultivate a variety of home choices and affordable housing opportunities.
  9. Create value for all taxpayers by cultivating return on investments and assets.
  10. Provide the best drinking water in North Carolina for Newton citizens.
  11. Leverage private and public funding sources to stimulate innovation and business growth.
  12. Improve marketing efforts to promote Newton.
  13. Build meaningful relationships with Newton stakeholders and advocacy groups.
  14. Value and offer professional development for productive City employees.
  15. Stimulate travel and tourism revenue through effective event planning.
  16. Foster and encourage agri-business development in and around Newton.
  17. Foster and encourage public art development in and around Newton.
  18. Pursue and promote innovation in all aspects of Newton development.
What Caused You To Want To Hold A Seat On Newton City Council?  
 

When and why did you decide to file for candidacy?  Have you ever been involved in politics before?

 

 I want to help lead our citizens and businesses to stability and improvements that Newton vitally needs and deserves. I want to make a positive difference.  Throughout my life, I have served in leadership roles on a variety of business, educational and faith based committees and organizations.  If the voting citizens in Newton provide me the opportunity, I will do my very best to honor their trust and confidence.

 

 
     Newton is home - 20 years
 
My family and I have lived in Newton since 1995, 20 years. I am a native North Carolinian, having grown up in historic Hillsborough, NC (in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area). My newspaper career brought our family to Newton where I served as publisher of the Observer News Enterprise from 1995 to 2000.
 
HODGE CAMPAIGN
Education
 
I am a graduate of East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. I graduated college in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in education. My educational experiences opened doors, allowing me to make career choices that led me to newspaper  and business opportunities. I consider myself a “life-long” learner. During my life, I completed additional work in North Carolina Community College programs and at the American Press Institute in Virginia. I have also completed professional career programs with companies where I have been employed.
Career and Beyond
 
Professionally, I spent 22 years in the newspaper industry in Wilmington, Lenoir and Newton, NC with the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group and with American Publishing Company. I served as publisher of the Observer News Enterprise from 1995 to 2000. I worked two years, from 2000 to 2002,  developing the Hickory Metro Sports Commission and the Catawba County Sports Hall of Fame. I  joined the Republic Services management team in 2002, where I worked for 10 years as the Division Business Development Manager and Major Accounts Manager.  During the past few years, I have served on the City of Newton Business Advisory Committee; appointed by former City of Newton Mayor,  Robert A. Mullinax and approved by Council.
Family
 
I have been married to Rowena McNeely Hodge for 37 years. We met in Raleigh where she was employed in the Court of Appeals by Judge Robert A. Hedrick. She is a native of Salisbury, NC. My two adult sons, Matthew (32) and Addison (29), graduated Newton-Conover High School. Matthew lives and works in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Addison is married to Kendra Bridgers Hodge.  They work and live in Charlotte, NC.
What Does Jerry Hodge Bring To The Table
 
  1. Proven Leadership to get things accomplished by working with  people at many levels.
 
2.   Knowledge of budgets, and organizational systems.
 
3.   Experience to build relationships and promote Newton.
   Community Service Also Helps Develop Leadership
 

  • City of Newton Business Advisory Committee, Member since December 2011 – current Chairman

  • Western Piedmont Council of Governments Policy Board Member at Large since 2010

  • Newton Conover Rotary Club – Former Member – Paul Harris Fellow

  • Catawba County Foresight Planning Committee, Member, 2004

  • Catawba County Chamber of Commerce, Board Chairman - 1998

  • YMCA of Catawba Valley Corporate Board, Former Member

  • Bank of Granite Advisory Board, Former Member

  • Newton-Conover Education Foundation, Co-founder and Former President

  • First Presbyterian Church of Newton, Elder – Personnel-Finance Committee, Past Chairman

  • Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association, Former Board Member

  • Youth Soccer Coach, City of Newton, YMCA and CVYSA

  • Catawba County, Newton-Conover and City of Hickory Schools Education School Bond Referendum Committee, Co-Chairman, 1997

           Favorite Things About Newton
                    Not necessarily in this order…….but almost!
  • Newton’s clean drinking water (officially recognized, celebrated  and documented as some of the cleanest water in North Carolina.)
  • All people living and moving to the area – heritage and traditions.
  • The 1924 Courthouse & Catawba County History Museum.
  • Architectural character of downtown Newton.
  • Variety of industries that actually “make stuff” and provide jobs in America.
  • Hardwood trees, rolling hills and red clay.
  • Proximity to Charlotte and access to travel destinations.
  • Scenic beauty throughout the Foothills and the NC Mountains.        
  • Parks and recreation facilities.
  • Vegetables and fruits from local farms and gardens.
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