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John Gentry
John Gentry (independent) ran for election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 18. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Gentry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
John Gentry served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1981 to 1990. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Maryland in 1997. Gentry's career experience includes working as a certified public accountant and in finance and accounting.[1][2][3]
Elections
2024
See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Tennessee State Senate District 18
Incumbent Ferrell Haile defeated Walter Chandler, John Gentry, and Laura Black in the general election for Tennessee State Senate District 18 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ferrell Haile (R) | 67.6 | 64,367 |
 | Walter Chandler (D)  | 24.7 | 23,524 | |
 | John Gentry (Independent) | 4.2 | 3,956 | |
| Laura Black (Independent) | 3.5 | 3,375 | ||
| Total votes: 95,222 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 18
Walter Chandler advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 18 on August 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Walter Chandler | 100.0 | 3,194 |
| Total votes: 3,194 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 18
Incumbent Ferrell Haile defeated Chris Spencer in the Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 18 on August 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ferrell Haile | 59.2 | 9,685 |
| Chris Spencer | 40.8 | 6,684 | ||
| Total votes: 16,369 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gentry in this election.
Pledges
Gentry signed the following pledges.
2022
See also: Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Tennessee
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Tennessee on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bill Lee (R) | 64.9 | 1,129,390 |
 | Jason Martin (D) | 32.9 | 572,818 | |
| John Gentry (Independent) | 0.9 | 15,395 | |
 | Constance Every (Independent) | 0.6 | 10,277 | |
 | Deborah Rouse (Independent) | 0.2 | 3,772 | |
 | Rick Tyler (Independent) | 0.1 | 2,380 | |
 | Charles Morgan (Independent) | 0.1 | 1,862 | |
| Basil Marceaux (Independent) | 0.1 | 1,568 | ||
| Alfred O'Neil (Independent) | 0.1 | 1,216 | ||
 | Michael Scantland (Independent) | 0.0 | 815 | |
 | Lemichael Wilson (L) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 386 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 3 | ||
| Total votes: 1,739,882 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Hosie Holomon III (Independent)
- Jake Johns (Independent)
- Wendell Jackson (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee
Jason Martin defeated JB Smiley Jr. and Carnita Atwater in the Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee on August 4, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jason Martin | 39.4 | 101,552 |
 | JB Smiley Jr. | 38.8 | 100,062 | |
 | Carnita Atwater | 21.8 | 56,227 | |
| Total votes: 257,841 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Casey Nicholson (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Tennessee
Incumbent Bill Lee advanced from the Republican primary for Governor of Tennessee on August 4, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bill Lee | 100.0 | 494,362 |
| Total votes: 494,362 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
2020
U.S. Senate
See also: United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2020
United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2020 (August 6 Democratic primary)
United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2020 (August 6 Republican primary)
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Tennessee
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Tennessee on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bill Hagerty (R) | 62.2 | 1,840,926 |
 | Marquita Bradshaw (D) | 35.2 | 1,040,691 | |
 | Elizabeth McLeod (Independent) | 0.6 | 16,652 | |
 | Yomi Faparusi (Independent) | 0.4 | 10,727 | |
| Steven Hooper (Independent) | 0.3 | 9,609 | ||
 | Kacey Morgan (Independent) (Unofficially withdrew) | 0.3 | 9,598 | |
 | Ronnie Henley (Independent) | 0.3 | 8,478 | |
 | Aaron James (Independent) | 0.2 | 7,203 | |
 | Eric William Stansberry (Independent) | 0.2 | 6,781 | |
 | Dean Hill (Independent) | 0.2 | 4,872 | |
 | Jeffrey Grunau (Independent) | 0.1 | 4,160 | |
| John Gentry (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 64 | |
| Total votes: 2,959,761 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tom Kovach (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Tennessee
Marquita Bradshaw defeated Robin Kimbrough Hayes, James Mackler, Gary Davis, and Mark Pickrell in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Tennessee on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Marquita Bradshaw | 35.5 | 117,962 |
 | Robin Kimbrough Hayes | 26.6 | 88,492 | |
 | James Mackler | 23.8 | 78,966 | |
 | Gary Davis | 9.3 | 30,758 | |
 | Mark Pickrell | 4.8 | 16,045 | |
| Total votes: 332,223 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Diana Onyejiaka (D)
- Tharon Chandler (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Tennessee
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Tennessee on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bill Hagerty | 50.8 | 331,267 |
 | Manny Sethi | 39.4 | 257,223 | |
 | George Flinn Jr. | 3.4 | 22,454 | |
 | Jon Henry | 1.2 | 8,104 | |
 | Natisha Brooks | 1.2 | 8,072 | |
 | Byron Bush | 0.8 | 5,420 | |
| Clifford Adkins | 0.8 | 5,316 | ||
 | Terry Dicus | 0.3 | 2,279 | |
 | Tom Emerson Jr. | 0.3 | 2,252 | |
 | David Schuster | 0.3 | 2,045 | |
| John Osborne | 0.3 | 1,877 | ||
 | Roy Cope | 0.3 | 1,791 | |
 | Kent Morrell | 0.3 | 1,769 | |
 | Aaron Pettigrew | 0.2 | 1,622 | |
| Glen Neal | 0.2 | 1,233 | ||
| Total votes: 652,724 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Garrett Nichols (R)
- Johnny Presley (R)
- Larry Crim (R)
- Jim Elkins (R)
- Josh Gapp (R)
- Clyde Benson (R)
- Geoffrey Stokes Nielson (R)
State Senate
See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Tennessee State Senate District 18
Incumbent Ferrell Haile defeated John Gentry in the general election for Tennessee State Senate District 18 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ferrell Haile (R) | 72.2 | 68,141 |
| John Gentry (Independent) | 27.8 | 26,261 | |
| Total votes: 94,402 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 18
Incumbent Ferrell Haile advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 18 on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ferrell Haile | 100.0 | 18,923 |
| Total votes: 18,923 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Gentry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gentry's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I served as a Force Recon Marine for more than eight years, and was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant for more than 20 years - tough and smart.
I swore an oath to defend the constitution against enemies foreign and domestic, and unlike any other candidate - I stand by that oath.- It is the people, and only the people that have the power to preserve the American Republic. I am teaching how to take back Tennessee through assertion of rights in our state constitution.
- Rights in our state constitution to instruct representatives, to apply to those invested with the powers of government must be restored. I have been fighting to that purpose for almost a decade and have already made tremendous progress.
- The Tennessee Constitution, Art. I, Sect. 1 affirms the unalienable, indefeasible right to reform government. Our government, acting in knowing and gross violation of our state constitution must be reformed, especially regarding judges holding prohibited second office in violation of Article VI, Section 7. That corruption, judges holding prohibited offices is the root of all corruption in our state government. Elected or not, I intend to demolish that corruption, but I can get that job done faster if elected to the state senate.
Literally, every member of the Tenn. House and Senate, is clueless in understanding our state constitution, and fail miserably to act with integrity to support our state constitution, in gross violation of their oath. I will restore that integrity to all members of the general assembly, by standing on the provisions of our state constitution and holding all members accountable to it.
Instead our legislative houses engage in deal making, passing each others special interest legislation, much of it in violation of provisions in our state constitution.
Outside the myriad of issues relating to governmental corruption; affordable housing, illegal immigration, and infrastructure providing reliable electricity.
John Adams stated; if every man were a Gerry, the Bill of Rights would be safeguarded against the gates of hell.
Patrick Henry stated; " What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
John Gentry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gentry's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- I guarantee term limits for all state Senators, Representatives and judges.
- Restoring constitutionally protected rights, especially the right ot petition for redress of grievances.
- Restoring justice to our courts by restoring accountability of our corrupt judiciary.
The book "A Treaties on the Constitutional Limitations Which Rest Upon The Legislative Power of the States of the American Union" Thomas Cooley 1883 is a comprehensive study of the federal constitution.
The book "The Bill of Rights, A Documentary History" B Schwartz 1971 is excellent for understanding the Bill of Rights and includes transcripts of the debates on the bill of rights.
U.S. Const. Art IV, Sect. 4 states; "The United States shall guarantee every state a republican form of government. Black's Law Dictionary defines a republic as; "That form of government where the administration of affairs is open to all citizens.
Fundamental to a government republican in character or form is the right of the people to petition for redress of grievances. That right is so oppressed it has been wiped from our collection knowledge and our republican form of government forsaken.
Fundamental to a republican form of government is RULE OF LAW which means we are ruled by law, not by men, with our supreme law set forth in state and federal constitutions that are grossly violated by state and federal governments.
The governor is also vested with the power of VETO and line item VETO of spending. I will exercise that power routinely and not permit any legislation that is repugnant to the constitution or contrary to the benefit of the people.
This not just a "responsibility" of the governor - it is a duty pursuant to Tenn. Const. Art. III, Sect. 10 "He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
As an accounting professional highly skilled in forensic accounting, I am adept at identifying fraud, waste and abuse or which there is much in our state budget. For example $1M for the purpose of "study to improve courthouse security". I will line item VETO such spending on a routine basis.
I will exercise any and all executive authority to stop as much of this legislation as possible. The magnitude of so much legislation is a death to our republic by a thousand cuts.
Due to the fact of rampant corruption in our legislative houses and judiciary, the ideal relationship today would lean almost adversarial with the governor protecting the people against "pretended legislation" passed in the House and Senate.
"Martial law" is control of civilians on domestic territory.
"Unrestricted Power" is power without legislative authority, without power of veto, just one man or one body exercising power and authority.
"or others" is governors, legislators, judges, county commissions, mayors, etc.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Gentry's campaign website stated the following:
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Tennessee Constitution Thomas Jefferson stated the Tennessee Constitution is the "least imperfect" and "most republican" Having compared to other state constitutions, I agree. Unfortunately, our present government acts outside its constraints and provisions causing harm to society. We must endeavor to adhere to the constitution.
In Tennessee citizens have a right to instruct our representatives and to apply to the government for redress of grievance or proper purpose by address or remonstrance. These rights have been oppressed for so long, they have been wiped from our collective knowledge. Our work is to restore these rights.
Government mandates, as a form of martial law, are prohibited to govt. in Art. I, Sect. 25 state constitution, as inconsistent with the principles of a free government. Constitutionally prohibited to govt., and for the same reasons, such power should also be prohibited to all agencies & business formations.
Our nation was founded upon Judeo-Christian principles and those principles must guide us moving forward. I have been and remain a life-long student of religion and philosophy. Religious and philosophical principles are the underlying foundation of a lasting republic and harmonious society. Understanding and adherence to those principles are essential to the proper form and conduct of government.
The solution to the current moral decline in our nation is a return to the principles and standards of morality which our Founding Fathers placed into the Constitution. Essential to our right of self-government, are the unalienable and indefeasible rights stated in our Tennessee Constitution, Art. I, Section 1. Also, essential to self-government is the right of citizens to instruct our representatives, petition our government for redress or other proper purposes by address or remonstrance. See Tenn. Const. Art. I, Sect. 23. These rights have been forgotten or we have been intentionally kept ignorant of these rights. I endeavor with all my being to restore these rights.
I strongly support the free enterprise system as the best hope for men and women to fulfill their economic hopes and dreams. Free market is the most efficient and the least costly system to deliver the highest quality goods and services at the lowest price to the consumer.
I support the right of parents to choose how and where to provide for their children’s education. Most importantly, our public schools must be mandated to properly teach civics, including our history and founding principles, and the Tennessee Constituti
I believe in the traditional American family, beginning with one man and one woman, are the cornerstone of our American society, and the government should protect the integrity of the family unit through legislation and tax policies. I also believe that every person is created equal with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To that end each persons’ choice in how they pursue Life, Liberty and happiness is their own, so long as their choices do not infringe on the same rights of others.
Life begins at conception and continues to the end of natural life. It is proper and just that all human beings, including preborn children, possess the same unalienable rights as all other people, and are entitled to the full and equal protection of the law. Like our founders, much of my ethical and moral standards are based in religious and philosophical principals. Religious and philosophical principles provide rational and reasonable explanation of what is to be considered rightful or wrongful conduct. Much of my philosophy in determining the difference between right and wrong is based on the modern philosophy of John Rawls’ Theory of Justice (1971), a variant of the social contract theory. Essentially, Rawls defines a rightful action, as one that a rational and reasonable person would choose in their “original position”. “Original position” is not knowing your station in life, not knowing if you are the victim or perpetrator, not knowing if you are the fetus or the person choosing to abort a fetus. Under Rawls’ Theory of Justice, each interested party is included in the “vote” on whether a choice or action is right or wrong. Would any rational reasonable person vote in favor of slavery, not knowing if they would end up a slave or slave owner? Would any rational reasonable person, choose to abort a preborn child, not knowing if they were to become the aborted fetus or the aborting doctor or parent? Of course not. Moreover, we must all be responsible for the actions we take. Responsibility of each person for their own conduct is fundamental to our society. And so, when a man and woman choose to engage in an act of procreation, without contraception, they become responsible for the results of that act. To assert otherwise is to throw out thousands of years of legal doctrine, religious and philosophical principles, and the principles upon which this nation was founded.
Citizens have an unqualified right to keep and bear arms based upon the U.S. Const. Second Amendment's guarantee to individuals of that right, and upon Tennessee Constitution, Article I, Section 26. Art. I, Sect 26 is clear; That the citizens of this state have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime. And pursuant to Tennessee Constitution, Article XI, Section 16; The declaration of rights hereto prefixed is declared to be a part of the Constitution of the state, and shall never be violated on any pretense whatever. And to guard against transgression of the high powers we have delegated, we declare that everything in the bill of rights contained, is excepted out of the general powers of the government, and shall forever remain inviolate. Article XI, Section 16 is one of the reasons Thomas Jefferson stated that the Tennessee Constitution is the “least imperfect” and “most republican”
State and federal taxes and fees are generally abusive to the American people while discouraging investment and growth. We must gradually eliminate punitive income taxes, and fees that are essentially double taxation, and move our tax system toward that originally established by our Founding Fathers.
The rights of victims are enumerated in our Tennessee Constitution, Article I, Section 35. We must preserve victims' rights over the rights of any criminal.
I hold with the founders of our Republic in the supremacy of the power of individual citizens over the powers they choose to delegate to the state, a principle enshrined in the Tenth Amendment. Only a small government truly serves the needs of the people and that those governments closest to the people are most responsive to their needs. I affirm the principle of Federalism, and its establishment in the form created by the Founders.
I have been a Certified Public Accountant, businessman, and entrepreneur for more than twenty years. I’ve worked for large and small business across a diverse range of businesses including; Retail, Service, Printing, Healthcare, eCommerce, Technology, Payment Processing. I served eight years as a Force Recon U.S. Marine, and have worked as a laborer, accountant, auditor, CFO, COO, and business owner. No other candidate or incumbent brings such a diverse range of work experience or industry experience to the table. As a businessman, I know first-hand the most effective means to create jobs is less government intrusion and regulation, creating tax incentives that provide a return on investment to the people and government, and less “pretended legislation” enacted though the lobbying efforts of the legal profession, to create torts for attorneys to bring class-action and other suits against businesses.
It is my strong opinion that lawful immigration is not only appropriate but essential to maintaining who we are as a nation and republic. Illegal immigration should be eliminated as much as possible. Illegal immigration is unfair to those who seek to enter this nation lawfully. For those immigrants fleeing their government en masse due to oppression, I equate that to cowardice. See Law of Nations, Paragraph 3 noted below. Regarding immigration, I rely on the same sources and arguments our founders relied upon – The Law of Nations, a legal treatise on International Law by Vatttel, published in 1758. Benjamin Franklin stated that the Law of Nations “"has been continually in the hands of the members of our Congress now sitting" United States Steel Corp. v. Multistate Tax Comm'n, 434 US 452 - Supreme Court 1978. Law of Nations Book I Chapter XIX §220. Whether a person may quit his country. pgs. 220-222 1. The children are bound by natural ties to the society in which they were born: they are under an obligation to shew themselves grateful for the protection it has afforded to their fathers, and are in a great measure indebted to it for their birth and education. They ought therefore to love it, as we have already shewn (§122),—to express a just gratitude to it, and requite its services as far as possible by serving it in turn.We have observed above (§212), that they have a right to enter <104> into the society of which their fathers were members. But every man is born free; and the son of a citizen, when come to the years of discretion, may examine whether it be convenient for him to join the society for which he was destined by his birth. If he does not find it advantageous to remain in it, he is at liberty to quit it on making it a compensation for what it has done in his favour,* and preserving, as far as his new engagements will allow him, the sentiments of love and gratitude he owes it. A man’s obligations to his natural country may, however, change, lessen, or entirely vanish, according as he shall have quitted it lawfully, and with good reason, in order to choose another, or has been banished from it deservedly or unjustly, in due form of law, or by violence. 2. As soon as the son of a citizen attains the age of manhood, and acts as a citizen, he tacitly assumes that character; his obligations, like those of others who expressly and formally enter into engagements with society, become stronger and more extensive: but the case is very different with respect to him of whom we have been speaking. When a society has not been formed for a determinate time, it is allowable to quit it, when that separation can take place without detriment to the society. A citizen may therefore quit the state of which he is a member, provided it be not in such a conjuncture when he cannot abandon it without doing it a visible injury. But we must here draw a distinction between what may in strict justice be done, and what is honourable and conformable to every duty,—in a word, between the internal and the external obligation. Every man has a right to quit his country, in order to settle in any other, when by that step he does not endanger the welfare of his country. But a good citizen will never determine on such a step without necessity, or without very strong reasons. It is taking a dishonourable advantage of our liberty, to quit our associates upon slight pretences, after having derived considerable advantages from them: and this is the case of every citizen with respect to his country. 3. As to those who have the cowardice to abandon their country in a time of danger, and seek to secure themselves instead of defending it,— they manifestly violate the social compact, by which all the contracting parties engaged to defend themselves in an united body, and in concert:
Our nation is a Republic, not a democracy. A republic is not democracy (rule of the many), a republic is not a monarchy (rule by one). A republic is not an oligarchy (rule by a few). A republic is governed by rule of law. The supreme law of the land is our state and federal constitutions. A republic is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. A government where power is inherent in the people - a power exercised through vote AND through their right to instruct their representatives AND through their right to address or remonstrate (petition) to the powers of the government. See Tenn. Const. Art I, Sections 1 and 23. The Unites States shall guarantee to every stated in this union a republican form of government: U.S. Constitution Art. IV, Section 4 The authority of the government under which they are appointed, as well as its republican character, is recognized by the proper constitutional authority. Luther v. Borden, 48 US 1, 12 L. Ed. 581, - Supreme Court, 1849. (at 42). The very idea of a government, republican in form, implies a right of its citizens to petition for redress of grievances. United States v. Cruikshank, 92 US 542, 23 – Supreme Court 1876 (at 553). " "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. " Neither Supreme Court opinion, nor our federal Constitution, refer to or describe our form of government as a democracy. We are a REPUBLIC.[4] |
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| —John Gentry's campaign website (2022)[5] | ||
2020
John Gentry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gentry's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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(1) Restore the right of remonstrance guaranteed in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, and Article I, Section 23 of the Tennessee Constitution. (2) Restore the check of one branch over the other of the judiciary, judicial oversight, and judicial accountability . (3) Restore the proper form of government mandated in the Tennessee Constitution. (4) Curtail state official corruption.
- U.S. Cont., Art. IV, Sect. 4; The United States shall guarentee every state a republican form of govt. (upholding right of petition, constrained by constitution).
- The right to petition by address or remonsrance is the MOST POWERFUL constitutionally protected right of the people not to be violated under any pretense whatever.
- Without judicial oversight it is impossible to maintain a fair and impartial judiciary.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with John Gentry, " March 12, 2021
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 15, 2022
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 5, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ John Gentry, “Where I Stand,” accessed June 15, 2022
