LYNCHBURG – Lynchburg businessman Bert Dodson has been certified as the Democratic nominee for the newly created 22nd State Senate District. Dodson pledged to make creating jobs and investing in education his top priorities in the General Assembly.

“I believe that we need more people with a business background in the State Senate,” said Dodson. “I am going to use my experience as a businessman to help create and keep good jobs in the 22nd District.

Dodson served on the Lynchburg City Council between 1998-2010, including six years as Vice Mayor. “On City Council, just like in state government, we had to balance our budget. Government needs to do more with less, focus on efficiency and run itself like a business. I am proud to say that we were able to provide the core services of our city-education, public safety, economic development and other priorities-without raising the real estate tax rate,” he continued. “Raising taxes is not the answer.”

Dodson pledged his support for a renewed state commitment to K-12 and higher education. “The best investment we can make is in our children and grandchildren so that they can compete for the top jobs of the future. I will strive for more accountability on how those dollars are spent.”

Dodson said he will work across party lines to reach consensus on important issues. “I will take a common sense approach to finding solutions to the challenges we face,” he added in a campaign press release. “Too many people are putting politics ahead of the interest of our communities and our state. We need to work together.”

Dodson has been President and CEO of Dodson Pest Control since 1989. The company, headquartered in Lynchburg, has grown to include 34 offices in five states and employs more than 500 people. Dodson belongs to the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary. He is a member of the Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Business (Virginia) and was honored by the NFIB as a Small Business Champion in 2006.

He serves as a member of Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership Economic Development Council and the Virginia High School League Foundation Board. He recently joined the Board of Virginia FREE (Foundation for Research and Economic Education). The Lynchburg Chapter of the NAACP honored Dodson with its Citizen Achievement Award in 2010. Bert and his wife Theresa have four children and six grandchildren.

The 22nd District consists of the city of Lynchburg and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Louisa and Prince Edward.

Five Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination, which will be decided in an August 23 primary.