THOMASVILLE — R.J. Hadley wants to overhaul a political machine that is fueled by corporate cash and the influence of special interest groups. That is why he rolled up his sleeves and entered the race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Johnny Isakson.

“I’m running a people’s race,” the 41-year-old lifelong Democrat from Conyers said during a Thursday evening stop at the Times-Enterprise. “I know we can do better in Georgia. We can get better representation.”

Hadley, a 1991 Dartmouth College graduate and married father of five, resigned his post as Rockdale County’s chief of staff last fall to begin his first quest for elective office. The former social worker in the New Jersey juvenile court system admitted his campaign is unorthodox and that his efforts haven’t always been embraced by party officials.

“I didn’t come up through the usual channels,” he said. “Some people are still waiting for the big name to enter the race, but I’m here and I’m stepping forward. I’ve seen a lot of good people get pushed out of politics because they didn’t come up through the ranks, and I think that’s part of the problem we have in this country.”

Hadley has been told it will take close to $10 million just to have a chance to be competitive against Isakson. He remains undeterred even though he has received less than $5,000 in campaign contributions.

“It can’t just be about money,” he said. “I don’t have it, but I still want to represent Georgians. I believe the money will take care of itself when the time comes.”

Hadley’s resume is not devoid of political success. He joined the Rockdale County Democratic Party upon returning to his birthplace in 2006 and quickly became its communications chairman. He was also one of the first volunteers for the Obama for America office in Atlanta. He campaigned for Barack Obama in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

“It was then that I learned how the system works,” he said.

Hadley hopes he can be swept into office by the desire for change that boosted Obama to the presidency in 2008. A growing anti-incumbent spirit might be helpful, too.

“Supposedly, this is a red state, Johnny is safe and nobody can touch him, but I’m not so sure,” Hadley explained. “I try to let people know that I don’t take the view of ‘what I can’t do.’ I’m going to talk to the people and encourage them. I’m the least important piece of the puzzle.

“I’m idealistic, but that’s what public service should be about.”

Hadley was an Obama delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Denver and successfully directed Commissioner Richard Oden’s 2008 bid to become chairman of the Rockdale County Commission.

“We turned a red county blue. We had to register 10,000 new voters to do it, but we did it,” he said.

Hadley remains largely in tune with Obama on policy matters.

“I support my President,” he said. “I think everyone should support him, but that doesn’t mean I will be a rubber stamp for everything he wants to do.”

Hadley backs Obama’s push for health care reform. The program’s cost of nearly $1 trillion worries him, however.

“I think health care should be a right of citizenship,” he said. “As a country, we should want that. But what are we going to give up so we can have it?

“There are going to be some tough decisions ahead and we need leaders who won’t represent the highest (campaign) donors and corporations.”

Hadley wants the U.S. to evaluate its spending, adding that immediate attention should be given to job creation.

“We need to realize that we can’t have it all. We need to focus on jobs, education and small businesses,” he said.

Hadley questioned the nation’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I’m not weak on defense, but I wonder if those wars are making us safer,” he said. “We are in a negative situation in regards to spending, and I’d like to see the money we are spending on war be used to get our VA hospitals up to snuff. Let’s get ready to have our soldiers come home and have money to treat them in the right way.”

Other Hadley priorities include simplifying the tax code and reexamining U.S. trade agreements.

“It’s a matter of fairness,” he said. “We need a group of leaders to discuss these matters with the public. I think America’s problems are so immense that we cannot stick with the same process.”

Hadley’s views are shaped to a degree by what he hears on the campaign trial.

“I’m a Democrat, but I’m out listening to everybody,” he said. “I’ve been to tea parties and Republican, Libertarian and Democratic events. I was even up at the Christian Alliance, places that I’m not supposed to be.”

Hadley is slated to speak at the next Thomasville Municipal Auditorium citizens meeting on April 8 at 6:15 p.m. He didn’t blink when warned parts of his message might be received lukewarmly by a crowd that will be loaded with Republicans who want to hear GOP gubernatorial front-runner John Oxendine and FairTax supporters.

“I have good experiences with the conservative crowd,” he said. “I do conservative radio shows and other events.”

Hadley said his remarks have drawn a few boos and hisses along the way, but he doesn’t mind engaging his detractors and thinks the Tea Party movement is a noteworthy force.

“I’ll tell (Tea Party supporters) that I disagree with a lot of what I’m hearing, but I do like their ability to get people off the couch and into the process. I think that’s worth something,” he said. “You can’t blame people for being upset with the government. Look at what we’ve been getting. People feel like they are going to get stuck whether a candidate has an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ by his name.

“That’s part of what I’m fighting because people feel like they’ve heard it before.”

The main theme of Hadley’s campaign message is in total accord with the Tea Party movement.

“Many in D.C. have forgotten an important truth; they are public servants,” Hadley said. “This is our government, and those in government work for us, not for the corporations and not for lobbyists.”