Congress hopeful ‘Dr. Rad’ considers health care ‘a right’

Published 11:39 pm Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Atlanta psychiatrist Branko Radulovacki said he wants to focus on strengthening health care reform measures and pushing for policies aimed at “leveling the economic playing field” if he’s elected to Congress.

One of five Democrats seeking the U.S. Senate seat held by outgoing incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss, Radulovacki stopped in Dalton Tuesday evening to speak at a meeting of the Whitfield County Democratic Party at the Mack Gaston Community Center.

Radulovacki, known as “Dr. Rad” to his patients and friends, said he believes his background as a small business owner, a physician and mental health advocate separates him from the other Democrats in the race. A first-time candidate for public office, Radulovacki said he decided to become involved in politics after becoming aware of what he called a “crisis in leadership” at the national level.

He said he supports “leveling the playing field” economically by supporting measures such as increasing the federal minimum wage and extending unemployment benefits. He said he’s concerned about efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

“I believe (health care) is a right, not a privilege for the few,” he said. “I don’t think we should do a U-turn.”

Radulovacki told his audience of about 40 he also supports giving felons the right to vote once they are released back into society. He said he opposes military policies that essentially make the United States “the world’s policemen.”

A graduate of Amherst College where he earned an economics degree, Radulovacki has also worked as a banker on Wall Street, earned a MBA at the University of Chicago and received his medical degree with honors from the University of Illinois, according to his website, drradforsenate.com. He completed his psychiatry residency at Yale.

Other Democrats seeking the Senate seat are Oglethorpe Mayor Gerald Beckum, former state Sen. Steen Miles, Michelle Nunn (daughter of former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn) and ex-U.S. Army Ranger Todd Robinson of Columbus. The winner of the May 20 Democratic primary faces the Republican winner among a list of candidates including U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, Marietta attorney Art Gardner, Derrick Grayson of Stone Mountain, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, businessman David Perdue of Macon, Congressman Jack Kingston and businessman Eugene Yu of Augusta.