Bruce Johnson (Ohio politician)

Bruce Johnson
Ted Gray
Succeeded by	David Goodman
Personal details
Born	(1960-05-25) May 25, 1960 (age 63) Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Kelly Brown
Profession	Lawyer, politician

Bruce Edward Johnson (born May 25, 1960) is an American lawyer and

on January 5, 2005, to complete an unexpired term. Johnson concurrently served as Director of the Ohio Department of Development.

Johnson entered politics in

as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. In 2005, Taft appointed him lieutenant governor. In December 2006, Johnson resigned a month before his term ended.

Background

Johnson graduated from

]

In 1991, Johnson was the campaign manager for Greg Lashutka's successful mayoral run in Columbus and became his chief of staff when Lashutka was sworn in.[2] Johnson served in City Hall from 1992 to 1994. During this time, he helped abolish the city's Human Services Department and reorganize the city's operations.

He is presently a resident of the Columbus suburb of Westerville. He and his wife, Kelley have four children.

Enters the Ohio Senate

Johnson was appointed by the Senate Republican caucus to the

.

Johnson ran for a full term that year and was unopposed in the May 3 primary, after Linda S. Reidelbach, an unsuccessful independent candidate for Congress in the

First term work

Johnson in 1995 called for reform of tax incentives and financing for corporations, saying it was political and unfair. "Why do we want to subsidize one competitor over another?" he asked... "I believe the market should dictate where the jobs will be," he told The Columbus Dispatch.[2] He sponsored legislation that would limit prisoners given a sentence of

Johnson in 1996 chaired a special committee examining tort reform. The resulting bill which passed the Senate, would in the words of The Columbus Dispatch, "cap noneconomic and punitive damages, impose additional time limits for filing lawsuits and protect defendants in multidefendant cases from being liable for unpaid portions of a judgment." The minority party was unhappy, the paper reported, "Democrats blasted Republicans, saying they were catering to business at the expense of the victims of their negligence." Senator Jeffrey D. Johnson, a Cleveland Democrat said "Somewhere along the way we have shifted away from concern for the victim to concern for business," but Bruce Johnson defended the legislation. "What we've done is tried to strike a balance. Lawsuit abuse threatens to close the doors of many small businesses in our state."^[4]

To make it easier for cities to take property owners to court for violations of zoning and building codes, Johnson in 1997 introduced legislation to let zoning officers issue tickets similar to traffic tickets from the police. "We need to protect neighborhoods against landlords and people who don't keep up their property," he told The Columbus Dispatch. The City of Columbus had requested help because it claimed the existing process of going to criminal court was too slow.^[5]

In the

.

In the Senate Johnson became chairman of the Judiciary Committee in July 1995 when the committee's chairman, Senator Barry Levey, a Republican of Middletown, retired.^[2] Johnson was the youngest-ever chairman of the Judiciary Committee. In the 122nd General Assembly (the 1997–1998 session), he chose to retain that post after dropping out of the race for majority whip, the fourth ranking post in the Republican leadership. He also was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee^[2] before entering the Senate leadership in 1999 and had been a member of the Legislative Ethics Committee.

Runs in Columbus

Johnson in 1997 sought election to a four-year term as Columbus city attorney, who prosecutes

within the city limits, defends the city in civil cases, and acts as the city's chief legal advisor with a budget of about $7 million with 140 employees. Johnson was endorsed by the Franklin County Republican Party and, as no other Republican filed, did not face a primary election. "Of all the jobs that are out there, that's the one I'm most qualified for right now," he told The Columbus Dispatch in January. He faced Janet E. Jackson, a former municipal court judge appointed by the city council that month to complete the term of Ron O'Brien, who had been elected Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney.

Johnson ran what The Dispatch characterized as an "aggressive" campaign on television and in debates. Among Johnson's concerns was that Jackson had been settling civil suits against the city too readily and for too much money and that she had been lax in prosecuting parents who failed to make child support payments. "I would be a deadbeat parent's worst nightmare," Johnson bragged. However, Jackson noted that no child support cases had been filed with her office and she could not be blamed for failing to hold parents accountable.

The Dispatch described one ad: "a man is shown attacking a woman in a kitchen as an announcer cites domestic violence statistics from Jackson's office" that she had dismissed or plea bargained 96 per cent of domestic violence cases. Jackson said of the commercial "It's base," she said. "It was meant to elicit a reaction," but Johnson countered "What she's afraid about is that people will find out that an outrageous number of domestic violence cases are dismissed or plea bargained. The outrage is the facts, not me bringing them up." The Dispatch called Johnson a "worthy opponent" to Jackson, but endorsed her, citing her experience and her "commitment to professionalism and nonpartisanship." Despite spending $265,900 on his campaign, Johnson lost the November 4 election, winning 41 per cent to Jackson's 59 per cent.

Jackson was disappointed with her opponent, telling The Dispatch after her victory "the senator and I talked early about running positive campaigns. Unfortunately, his campaign ended up being about half-truths and half-statements."^[6]

Continues Senate service

In 1998, he sought re-election to his Senate seat. He was again unopposed in the Republican primary, held on May 5 in which he received 20,130 votes. The Columbus Dispatch endorsed him in the fall, editorializing:

During the past four years, no senator was more active or as deeply involved in as many major issues as Johnson... A legislative whirlwind, he personally sponsored numerous bills and shepherded others into law... By any measure, this legislative record is substantive and valuable to central Ohio and the state... Johnson is respected and trusted on both sides of the aisle. His accomplishments are remarkable for someone just 38 years old. He fully deserves another term.^[7]

In the general election on November 3, he faced Democrat Debra A. Payne, a small businesswoman who owned a data-processing firm and was a three-term councilwoman in Gahanna. Payne told The Columbus Dispatch "I went door to door and asked, 'Do you know who your state senator is?' They said, 'I have no idea,' and I said, 'That's why you need me.' " Johnson defeated her by a vote of 53,074 (54.79%) to 43,796 (45.21%), a decreased margin of seven percent from 1994. After his reelection, the Senate Republican caucus elected him assistant president pro tempore,^[2] the third ranking post in the GOP leadership, defeating fellow a Franklin County senator, Eugene Watts of Dublin, who sought another term in that post. ^[8]

In December 1998, Columbus Mayor Greg Latshukta announced he would not seek a third term in 1999. Johnson briefly considered a run for the seat, but decided against it. The same month, Johnson told The Columbus Dispatch he was investigating overturning the city council's vote to grant benefits to domestic partners of city employers, according them the same treatment as spouses. Johnson objected to the idea itself, the cost, and the manner in which the question was rushed through the council without any public notice or debate. "No matter what you think of the merits, the process on an issue they knew could raise serious questions from the public was circumvented," said Johnson.^[9]

Concerned with protecting children

Johnson was strongly

In 2000, Johnson sponsored legislation that would require

breast feed

their children in public.

Utility deregulation spearheaded

Electricity deregulation legislation occupied the General Assembly from 1997 to 1999. In early 1997 Johnson and Representative Priscilla D. Mead, a Republican from Upper Arlington, were named co-chairmen of the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Electric Utility Deregulation. Johnson was the chief sponsor of the proposal and worked hard to shepherd it through the legislature. The plan faced an uphill fight against the utility industry and advocates for consumers. "The proposed legislation provides utilities adequate revenue to make the transition to a competitive market. It will not result in any consumers' paying more for electricity," he promised his colleagues in the General Assembly, worried about increasing their constituents' bills. Johnson called his plan "a reasonable and fair approach" and ultimately prevailing, Johnson successfully passing the legislation into law in 1999.^[13]

Sealing Senate records

Johnson was strongly criticized for his 2001 attempt to repeal the reach of Ohio's

that made state records available to the public, a proposal contained in the massive state budget bill. Darrell Rowland of The Columbus Dispatch described Johnson's idea: "The obscure proposal–two dozen lines in a 58,936-line bill–would prevent subpoenas of legislative staff members and their communications with legislators. The bill also would keep secret any legislative documents not deemed public records–a broad category because the General Assembly already concealed much of that material from public view two years ago."

William L. Phillis, executive director of the Coalition for Equity and Adequacy, a group of public schools suing the State of Ohio for more funding, told the newspaper "This is not something you expect in a democracy. You might expect this kind of behavior from a third-world dictator, one that would want to hide wrongdoing by making a decree that makes it right." Johnson told The Dispatch "I need unlimited, unfettered discretion to seek every fact I can find in order to come to a decent conclusion. What we want to do is make sure the senators and representatives are competently representing the will of the people." The senator also claimed seventeenth-century English common law justified his plan.

Thomas C. Drabick Jr. of Blacklick said in a letter to the editor published in The Dispatch "He has unlimited and unfettered arrogance. Who does he think he works for? Clearly, he does not believe that he is responsible to the people of Ohio; otherwise, he would not seek to keep secrets from us." The Dispatch agreed, editorializing that "Government decisions made in secret aren't necessarily better decisions, they're just secret decisions. Unfortunately, too many of Ohio's legislative leaders seem sold on the idea that keeping things hush-hush is good." Nevertheless, the Senate passed Johnson's proposal, part of the state budget, over attempts by the Democratic minority to remove the language from the bill.^[14]

Other legislative work

Johnson was a critic of the

and saw it enacted into law.

Johnson opposed efforts to locate state offices outside of Columbus, defeating a bill in committee in 1998. Johnson declared of the defeat "the people of the state are the winners, not Toledo, not Marietta, not Columbus."^[16] In 1999, he obtained Senate passage of a resolution commending "Neighbors Day". As part of the debate, he sang the theme song to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood on the Senate floor.^[17] That year he also sponsored legislation to declare the northern largemouth bass the official state fish.^[18] The Columbus Dispatch after his resignation referred to his "blunt, opinionated style."

Johnson also served as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the second ranking position in the body, which he held when he left to enter Governor Taft's cabinet. He was chairman of the Finance and Financial Institutions Committee until his resignation.

Appointed Development Director

On August 28, 2001, Johnson being ineligible for a third term under Ohio's

was appointed by the Senate Republican caucus in Johnson's place. Upon his departure, Johnson told his colleagues "I hope to make you proud, and I hope to pick your pocket."

Johnson's hometown paper, The Columbus Dispatch, hailed the choice saying "Taft picked a pro in Bruce E. Johnson" but Cleveland's The Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest newspaper, editorialized that Johnson was an "uninspired choice" with "no discernible experience in job creation."^[19] The Toledo Blade also was skeptical, writing in an editorial "he brings gusto to a job that requires verve, imagination, and the ability to turn visions into reality. He has the first. For the rest we must wait and see." The Blade also criticized Johnson's efforts to keep state offices in Columbus and opposed his ideas for spending state development funds: "Mr. Johnson's plan to target technology and biotechnology jobs suggests the same old advantage will go to the cities that get them now: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati" at the expense of other neglected areas of the state. The Columbus Dispatch wrote Johnson "would seem to have little to commend him for the job, except perhaps for his degree in economics from Bowling Green State University," but he told the paper "I have the confidence of the governor."^[20]

Almost immediately there was speculation of his being promoted to the post of lieutenant governor. In November 2001, the

Johnson led the campaign advocating the Third Frontier program, a large state bond issue to finance industrial research and development, which Governor Taft had championed. Critics such as Representative Tom Brinkman, a Republican of Cincinnati, called it "corporate welfare". Johnson after its defeat by the voters in November 2003 told The Plain Dealer the plan was not dead. "There will definitely be continuing efforts to fund this strategy, because it's the right strategy. So you don't drop it. You continue to encourage state funding. But it's certainly more challenging," he said, after the failure."^[22] Johnson turned out to be right. In 2005, Johnson was the point man on the Third Frontier campaign again, but this time voters in Ohio approved State Issue One which allocated dollars to support technology and innovation. Johnson served as the Chairman of the Third Frontier Commission. In May, 2010 the voters renewed the Third Frontier once again.

As director of the Department of Development, Johnson was frequently in attendance at announcements of factory openings and expansions and was often quoted in Ohio newspapers in connection with any new employment in the state.

As lieutenant governor

Job swaps bring Johnson to office

Johnson became lieutenant governor through a series of job swaps in the Republican Party, routine in the party.

Jennette B. Bradley

to Deters's post. Taft announced he would appoint Johnson to Bradley's former post on December 21, 2004, and that Johnson would continue to serve as head of the Department of Development. (Johnson announced he would not take the lieutenant governor's salary, which was about half the Development director's pay of $125,000 per annum.)

The Akron Beacon-Journal declared "the lieutenant governor's role in Columbus is typically about as exciting as drywall," as the lieutenant governor's job carries no duties except what the Governor assigns, the chief function of the office now being to provide a successor to the Governor. The Cincinnati Enquirer, a Republican paper, editorialized "Johnson and Bradley seem to be good choices for these jobs. However, the way they got the posts points out again that Ohio is clearly dominated by one political party, a situation we do not think is healthy for the state, no matter which party is in control."^[23]

When Johnson's name came before the Republican controlled General Assembly on January 4, 2005, the day after Bradley's resignation, it was the first time a governor had appointed a new lieutenant governor and consequently the legislature had no experience with such a nomination. The nomination was swiftly approved over the objections of the Democratic minority, who protested there was not sufficient opportunity to debate the question. Senator Eric Fingerhut, a Democrat from Cleveland, noted "He's a heartbeat away, a peanut away from being the governor of the state of Ohio. No, he was not elected by the people." Senate Democratic leader C. J. Prentiss of Cleveland was quoted by The Columbus Dispatch on January 5: "In essence, voters are being denied their franchise of public participation and are not having a voice in this process. This is the severity of what can happen with one-party rule, and we want to protect their interest by objecting to this charade of an unelected public official."

"We need to have a discussion and not just appoint him in ten minutes or less," said Senator Dan Brady, a Democrat from Cleveland. Brady said on the Senate floor "The majority party is playing musical chairs with statewide offices in this state. We have to have some type of process." The Beacon-Journal was also skeptical of "the latest round of musical chairs among Republican officeholders in Columbus." Nevertheless, the General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 1, which confirmed Johnson, on January 4, 2005, by 97–0 in the House and 22-11 in the Senate. Taft told the crowd at the swearing on January 5, "Bruce has been actively engaged in designing our program for jobs creation, tax reform and economic development. It is primarily because of his leadership on the economy that I have chosen Bruce."^[24]

Work as lieutenant governor

Johnson actively campaigned for the tax reform plans of Governor Taft, which ultimately became law. Johnson told The News Journal in Mansfield that "Ohio's outdated tax system hinders our ability to attract new business and employment opportunities in our communities" and "What we're doing now doesn't make sense. We take the things that business people utilize and give it the highest tax rate in the nation." Michael Douglas, a writer for the Akron Beacon-Journal quoted Johnson's claim that the new business activity tax was "one of the most fair and innovative in the nation," but was highly skeptical. Douglas said "Ohio [is] fashioning its own version of a tax applied by a mere handful of states. Might Ohioans be concerned that all of this has been championed by a governor and team that botched the mandated reporting of his golf dates?"

Johnson was head of the committee promoting Taft's $2 billion state bond issue for industrial research and development and road construction on the November 2005 ballot, similar to the failed Third Frontier. Critics of the proposal called the plans "pork" and "corporate welfare" but Johnson told The Plain Dealer "World-class research creates jobs" and "We believe this issue will be victorious, mostly because it makes sense to Ohioans to have Ohio spending money to ensure that all the infrastructure in the state is preparing for the jobs of the century." The multibillion-dollar bond issue was passed by voters 1,512,669 (54.12%) to 1,282,571 (45.88%).^[25]

Scandal surrounds Taft

In 2005,

Governor Bob Taft was convicted of four counts of failing to file accurate financial disclosure statements but said he would not resign his office despite the conviction, which grew out of the Coingate scandal

exposed by The Toledo Blade. Johnson, who would become governor if Taft resigned, told The Plain Dealer "You don't take this appointment and go through the confirmation process without knowing that you're prepared. But I don't expect it" and said he had not spoken to Taft about becoming governor. Johnson was by The Columbus Dispatch that "It's not gonna happen. The governor is going to serve out his term. But if something were to happen, I'm prepared to serve as governor."

Representative

Catawba Island

and House minority leader told The Toledo Blade he welcomed Johnson as governor. "If Bruce Johnson were to ascend, he could offer real reform."

The Dayton Daily News was dismayed with the prospect of Johnson becoming governor.

Bruce Johnson got his job because of another scandal. This gets complicated: former Ohio State Treasurer Joe Deters saw two of his aides indicted. Damaged goods, he left in midterm to run for county prosecutor back home in Cincinnati. Gov. Taft moved then-Lt. Gov. Jennette Bradley into Mr. Deters' job by appointment, hoping she'll hold the spot for Republicans in 2006. And then the governor appointed his development director, Mr. Johnson, as lieutenant governor. The finagling has simply been rampant. For a man to become governor through that process and a gubernatorial scandal would be, uh, scandalous. Whether a new governor with that background would be even weaker than a convicted Gov. Taft is a close call. The decisive factor in determining who should be governor has to be that Gov. Taft was the one who was elected.^[26]

Leaving office

Johnson did not file to run for any office in the May 2, 2006, primary. His name was not mentioned in the public speculation as to who the leading Republican candidates for governor,

J. Kenneth Blackwell might pick as their running mate and was not tapped by either to continue in office. Johnson's term as lieutenant governor would have expired on January 7, 2007 but he announced on December 1, 2006 that he would resign on December 8. Governor Bob Taft did not appoint a replacement for the remaining month of the term before Lee Fisher, elected as Ted Strickland's running mate in November, took office.^[27]

Johnson currently^[when?] works as the President of the Inter-University Council of Ohio.

References

1. ^ The Rainbow, vol. 132, no. 2, p. 10,
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Taft names Ohio development director". Cincinnati Business Courier. August 28, 2001.

1. ^ . Barbara Carmen. "Mayor Ready to Pick Chief: Johnson's Move Leaves Key City Hall Job Open." The Columbus Dispatch. March 1, 1994. 5C; "Johnson, Espy Bipartisan Selections for the Ohio Senate" (editorial). The Columbus Dispatch. October 12, 1994. 8A.
2. ^ . "Ad in Senate Contest Called Misleading." The Columbus Dispatch. October 26, 1994. 2C.
3. ^ . Lee Leonard. "Lawmaker Suggests Dropping Business Incentives." The Columbus Dispatch. September 21, 1995. 7C.
4. ^ . Catherine Candinsky. "House Passes Crime Bill Cutting Appeals Process." The Columbus Dispatch. June 1, 2005. 4D.
5. ^ . Catherine Candinsky. "Senate OK's Bill That Would Revamp Civil Justice Laws." The Columbus Dispatch. May 30, 1997. 7B.
6. ^ . Barbara Carmen. "Owners of Eyesores Target of Ticket Bill: Lawmaker Wants to Ticket Folks Who Neglect Property." The Columbus Dispatch. March 29, 1997. 1B.
7. ^ . Doug Caruso. "Incumbents Take Lead in City Attorney, Council Races: Democrat Jackson Takes Command." The Columbus Dispatch. October 5, 1997. 1C; "For City Attorney" (editorial). The Columbus Dispatch. October 12, 1997. 2C; Doug Caruso. "Jackson Takes On Property Owners, Johnson Pursues Deadbeat Parents." The Columbus Dispatch. October 16, 1997. 4C; Doug Caruso. "Johnson Ads Mislead, Jackson Says." The Columbus Dispatch. October 30, 1997. 5C; Doug Caruso. "Jackson, Johnson Seek City Attorney Job." The Columbus Dispatch. November 2, 1997. 2C; Doug Caruso and Brent Lalonde. "Jackson Easily Wins Full Term." The Columbus Dispatch. November 5, 1997. 1A; Kevin Mayhood. "Democrats Outspent GOP Rivals." The Columbus Dispatch. December 13, 1997. 6E
8. ^ . "Ohio Senate: Johnson, Espy, Branstool Deserve Support" (Editorial). The Columbus Dispatch. October 14, 1998. 10A.
9. ^ . Catherine Candinsky. "Democrat Payne Focused on Ousting Johnson: Underdog is Undaunted by Republican District." The Columbus Dispatch. October 9, 1998. 6C; Catherine Candinsky. "Incumbent Says He Has Proven Himself Already." The Columbus Dispatch. October 9, 1998. 6C.
10. ^ . Doug Caruso. "City Benefits for Live-in Partners Draw Fire." The Columbus Dispatch. December 17, 1998. 1A.
11. ^ . Julie Carr Smyth. "Bill allows mothers to give up newborns." The Plain Dealer. December 8, 2000. 1A.
12. The Toledo Blade
    . May 17, 2000. A1.
13. ^ . Mark D. Somerson. "Bill Proposes Mandatory Chickenpox Vaccine." The Columbus Dispatch. February 16, 2000. 6B.
14. The Akron Beacon-Journal
    . March 26, 1999. C3.
15. ^ . Darrell Rowland. "GOP Senators Move to Limit Public Records." The Columbus Dispatch. May 18, 2001. 1A; Thomas C. Drabick Jr. "Secrecy in Government Disservice to Ohioans." (Letter) The Columbus Dispatch. May 31, 2001. 6A; "Senators, Lift the Lid: Public's business is best done in public" (Editorial). The Columbus Dispatch. May 22, 2001.
16. ^ . James Pilcher. "Tougher DUI rule faces fight, Finan says." The Cincinnati Enquirer. December 4, 2000. 1A.
17. ^ . The Associated Press. "Panel Doesn't Support Moving State Agencies." The Plain Dealer. May 15, 1998. 5B.
18. ^ . Michael Hawthorne. "Steering clear of emergency vehicles on roadside now law." The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 11, 1999.
19. ^ The Associated Press. "Ohio Tries to Choose the Fish that Best Represents the State." The Plain Dealer. December 5, 1999. 4B.
20. ^ . "Taft picked a pro in Bruce E. Johnson." (Editorial). The Columbus Dispatch. September 2, 2001. 2H; "Taft's uninspired choice" (editorial). The Plain Dealer. August 29, 2001. B8.
21. The Toledo Blade
    . August 29, 2001. A9.
22. ^ . William Hershey. "O'Connor Planning Return to Bench: Run means Taft must find running mate for re-election bid." Dayton Daily News. November 15, 2001. 1B.
23. ^ . Becky Gaylord. "Defeat of Issue 1 isn't a dead-end: Ohio officials plan to get more money for high-tech jobs and research." The Plain Dealer. November 7, 2003. B3.
24. The Akron Beacon-Journal
    . January 6, 2005. B1.
25. The Akron Beacon-Journal. January 6, 2005. B1; Mandy Zatynski. "Johnson wins OK of General Assembly as lieutenant governor." Dayton Daily News
    . January 5, 2005. B3.
26. The Akron Beacon-Journal
    . January 6, 2005. B1.
27. The Toledo Blade. August 13, 2005. A1; Mark Niquette. "Coleman Joins Calls for Taft to Resign." The Columbus Dispatch. August 20, 2005. 1A; "Resignation would create new problem" (editorial). Dayton Daily News. August 24, 2005; Julie Carr Smyth, T. C. Brown, and Sandy Theis. "Taft to enter plea today: Governor charged with 4 ethics violations." The Plain Dealer
    . August 18, 2005. A1.
28. ^ . Alan Johnson. "Lieutenant governor decides it's time to go: Johnson discloses no particular plans, Taft says interim isn't needed." The Columbus Dispatch. December 2, 2006.

Political offices
Preceded by Theodore W. Gray	Ohio Senator for the Third District 1994–2001	Succeeded by David Goodman
Preceded by C. Lee Johnson	Ohio Development Director 2001–2007	Succeeded by Lee Fisher
Preceded by Jennette Bradley	Lieutenant Governor of Ohio 2005–2006	Succeeded by Lee Fisher