Issue Position: Broadrick says jobs will be main issue

Issue Position

As a pharmacist and former small business owner, Dalton's Bruce Broadrick says he knows just how much this area needs more jobs and greater economic growth. And he says his experience could help the area find those jobs.

"We need to do whatever we can to support our core businesses -- flooring and carpet manufacturing -- but also to attract new businesses and to have the well-trained work force in place to do that," he said. "To do anything else we want to do we have to have that growth. It's what generates the revenues that our schools and governments depend on."

Broadrick says he will seek the Republican nomination for state House of Representatives District 4. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Dalton, who currently represents District 4, announced his retirement earlier this year. The district includes the city of Dalton and a few surrounding areas.

Dalton businessmen Dennis Mock and David Renz have also said they will be running as Republicans for that post. Qualifying begins May 23. The primary is July 31.

"We have so much potential in terms of being able to attract new industries," Broadrick said. "We've got an ample water supply. We've got some of the lowest utility rates in the country. We've got a fair sales tax rate. We've got a good education system. We've got a college. We've got a technical school here. We've got the interstate and two railroads."

What could he do in the General Assembly to help bring in new jobs?

"It would have to be a collaborative effort with the other legislators. (District 6 Rep.) Tom Dickson and I worked on the Whitfield County Board of Health when he was superintendent of schools. (District 3 Rep.) Tom Weldon is a friend," Broadrick said. "We would work together to make sure that anything the state is doing and anything our local chambers are doing is in concert."

A Whitfield County native, Broadrick, 60, owned and operated Frank's Pharmacy for more than 33 years and currently works as a pharmacist for Walgreens. He earned an associate's degree from Middle Georgia College and a pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy.

He is chairman of the Board of Health and is a board member of the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership. He is a past president of the Georgia Pharmacy Association and has served on several state-level committees of that organization.

"The state covers the health insurance for about 25 percent of the population if you take state employees, their retirees, Medicaid and children's health programs," Broadrick said. "That's a tremendous budget item there, and we've got to make sure we are getting the best bang for our buck."

How?

"Legislative oversight is important. When you are looking at contracts and when you are looking at any portion of it we need to make sure we are getting the most for our money," he said.

Broadrick and his wife Mary Ann have three children -- Bucky, Maggie and Emily -- and three grandchildren.

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