Who Is Jenny Hodges?
Northeast Cobb Patch readers want to know the woman speaking for, and leaving comments for, state Rep. Bobby Franklin.
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When Jenny Hodges left a comment on the article Rep. Bobby Franklin Offends Tornado Victims in Franklin's defense, some Northeast Cobb residents asked, "Who is this person?"
Hodges is Franklin's sister, but the stay-at-home Cobb County mom is much more than that in politics.
According to her Facebook page, Hodges' political views are "John Locke Libertarian."
Although her political debut was only in 2007, she proved to be an articulate proponent on issues during the Nov. 24, 2009, Fayette-Coweta 912 Project event in Peachtree City.
Hodges was the campaign director for 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate Ray McBerry. When McBerry could not attend the event, Hodges addressed the crowd. She received a standing ovation after speaking on issues such as states’ rights, abortion, gun control and state sovereignty.
“The Constitution presupposes that our rights are from God. The states came together and made a compact limiting the scope of government,” Hodges was quoted as saying at the Fayette-Coweta 912 Project event. “How dare they enslave us? The solution to the problems with the federal government and federal tyranny is states’ rights and state sovereignty.”
Hodges commented in her brother's defense because their shared belief is that the individual states should determine the significant aspects of their own destiny, such as emergency management of disasters. They question the intervention of the federal government.
Northeast Cobb Patch asked Hodges about interviewing Franklin about his views concerning tornado victims, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and how disasters should be handled.
"Rep. Franklin rarely gives interviews. At this point, I'm not sure what would motivate him to give you one. I'm certainly not motivated to encourage him to do so. But feel free to convince me. I keep an open mind," she said.
Asked where and when Franklin spent three days aiding tornado victims, Hodges wrote in an email: "It is a fact that Bobby was out of town for three days tending to the needs of tornado victims. It is a fact that I did not know of his departure until his return, at which time he responded to some time sensitive email with an apology because he'd been out of town and unable to check email.
"Why would you trust me to give you the exact time, date, location for his trip if you do not trust me that the trip occurred at all?"
Tara
10:51 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Jenny Hodges is not Rep. Franklin's sister and not his spokesman, no matter how much she might want to be. She has been ostracized by every conservative group in the state. Although a proponent for the pro-life community, no pro-life organization wants anything to do with her and will not allow her to speak at their events. She was fired from being McBerry's campaign manager during the governor's race for insubordination and disrespect to other candidates. It was one of the best decisions he made throughout the campaign. The woman is a loose cannon.
lisa56
8:25 am on Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wow, this gets "curiouser and curiouser." Please keep us informed.
lisa56
8:37 am on Thursday, May 12, 2011
If Ms. Hodges is not Representative Franklin's designated "hate mail" handler I would like to know how it is that she gained access to my personal email address. It appears as though "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark".
Georgia Moderate
10:58 am on Friday, May 13, 2011
There appears to have been an assumption that Ms. Hodges was Franklin's sister, as she lists him as such on her Facebook page. However, this does not appear to be true. Franklin has two older sisters, based on biographical information, and it seems clear that Ms. Hodges is younger than Rep. Franklin.
As to whether she is acting in an official capacity for Franklin remains to be seen. If she is not, a public statement by Franklin would be a wise course.
Hodges' work among the pro-life crowds has been interesting. She worked with a Rev. Martin Hawley for a while; Hawley did, in the past, provide some sort of web site and communications work for Rep. Calvin Hill in Cherokee county.