Steve Johnson (Colorado politician)

Steve Johnson
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 15th district
In office
January 8, 2003[1] – January 6, 2009[2]
Preceded byStan Matsunaka
Succeeded byKevin Lundberg
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 49th district
In office
January 1997 – January 8, 2003[1]
Succeeded byKevin Lundberg
Personal details
Born (1960-04-21) April 21, 1960 (age 64)
Columbus, Ohio
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLynette
ProfessionVeterinarian, educator

Steve Johnson (born April 21, 1960) is an American former politician. He was a county commissioner of Larimer County, Colorado, and a Republican member of the Colorado Senate. From 2003 to 2009, Johnson represented the 15th Senate district, encompassing rural Larimer County and the cities of Loveland and Estes Park.[3] Previously he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1997 through 2002.

Biography

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Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a D.V.M. from Colorado State University, Johnson worked as a veterinarian in Loveland, Colorado, and currently works as a county supervisor for Larimer County. He has taught science at Heritage Christian High School. Johnson is married and has no children.[4]

Johnson was a member of the Larimer County Planning Commission from 1987 to 1996, and was first elected to the State House in 1996.[4] In 2002, he was elected to the State Senate over Democrat Kathy Gilliland, and was re-elected in 2006, defeating Democrat Jennifer Miller. [5] In the 2007-2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Johnson sat on the powerful Joint Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.[6]

A moderate Republican, Johnson was the State Senate sponsor for Referendum C, a statewide measure to remove TABOR restrictions on the state budget; his sponsorship put him at odd with other fiscally conservative Republicans. In addition to his work on the six-member Joint Budget Committee preparing the state budget, Johnson has expressed priorities of expanding funding to higher education and re-opening the state drivers' license office in Loveland.[7]/ The office reopened on May 16, 2008.

In June 2007, Johnson — otherwise healthy and athletic, having recently taken second place in a legislative fitness challenge — suffered a heart attack. That same summer, Johnson taught an organic chemistry class at Colorado State University. Since then, Johnson has placed a renewed emphasis on affordable healthcare, calling it a "moral issue" for the Republican Party.[8][9]

In January 2008, Johnson, facing the end of his senate tenure in 2010, announced his candidacy for a seat on the Larimer County Board of Commissioners.[10]

He was elected in 2008, in 2012 without opposition, and again in 2016.[citation needed]

In 2015, Johnson was named Colorado Commissioner of the Year by the state-wide County Commissioner organization, Colorado Counties, Inc.[citation needed]

He retired from politics in 2021.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Senate Journal - January 8, 2003" (PDF). Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  2. ^ http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20081231/LOVELAND01/81231007 [permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Colorado State Senate Districts". COMaps. Archived from the original on 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  4. ^ a b "Steve Johnson - Colorado - State Senate District 15 candidate". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  5. ^ Larimer County, Colorado. "Election Information". Larimer County Virtual Courthouse. Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  6. ^ "Senate Committees". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  7. ^ Coberly, Andra (3 January 2007). "A Rare Find: A Republican With Power". Fort Collins Weekly. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  8. ^ Coberly, Andra (28 October 2007). "HHeart attack motivates Colo. senator to be more heart-healthy". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  9. ^ Kosena, Jason (4 November 2007). "Health care dominates meeting". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Retrieved 2007-11-18.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ The Coloradoan - www.coloradoan.com - Ft. Collins, CO[dead link]
  11. ^ "Larimer County commissioners will be all Democrats for first time in history". Fort Collins Coloradoan.
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