Rick Goddard, Republican candidate for U.S. House District 8, stumped in Tifton Monday and he and his wife, Judy, were treated to lunch at Shoney’s. Goddard, of Warner Robins, announced last June that he would challenge three-term Congressman Jim Marshall (D-Macon) for the seat.

Goddard told those present Monday, including some representatives of the local Republican party, some elected county and city officials and others, that he didn’t consider running for the post until a little over a year ago.

“I am not a politician and have no desire to be one,” Goddard said. “I didn’t even run for school council.”

Goddard, who retired in 2000 as a major general after 33 years in the U.S. Air Force, commanded Robins Air Force Base. He is currently on leave from Mercer University, where he served as vice president and chief technology officer.

Goddard said that “responsibility and accountability” are not priorities with the current Democratic Congress. He said that “core values” have been lost.

“Some school boards have decided they can’t say the Pledge of Allegiance because it might offend somebody,” Goddard said. “If the flag of the United States of America offends somebody, something is terribly wrong.”

If elected, Goddard said he wouldn’t put politics over the needs of the people in the area he serves.

“In America, you do what is right for the country and not the party,” Goddard said.

Goddard said that America needed to become independent of other nations for energy and food to be strong.

“There are people in Congress who don’t want us to be energy independent because they won’t let us drill our own oil,” he said, noting that he wasn’t against taking care of the environment and thought Americans should.

“By golly, there are things we need to do to protect America,” Goddard said. “If we don’t have the ability to feed ourselves, we are in trouble. The country is not safe without the ability to provide our own energy and feed ourselves.”

Goddard supports building more nuclear power plants.

Goddard said Marshall’s comments that those in Congress “can’t get anything done” indicates that change is needed.

“There are good Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and it is time to work together for common ground and common goals,” Goddard said. “We need new leadership in Washington.”

Goddard said his experience as commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base gave him experience needed to be a good Congressman. He said the base is the state’s largest industrial complex and he oversaw an annual budget of over $4 billion and 25,000 employees.