Steve Johnson (Colorado legislator)
Encyclopedia
Steve Johnson is a Larimer County, Colorado
county commissioner and a former 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
. Previously he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1997 through 2002.
, 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.
Johnson was a member of the Larimer County Planning Commission from 1987 to 1996, and was first elected to the State House in 1996. In 2002, he was elected to the State Senate over Democrat Kathy Gilliland, and was re-elected in 2006, defeating Democrat Jennifer Miller.
In the 2007-2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Johnson sat on the powerful Joint Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.
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
./ 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 health care
, calling it a "moral issue" for the Republican Party.
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.
Larimer County, Colorado
Larimer County is the seventh most populous and the ninth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is located at the northern end of the Front Range, at the edge of the Colorado Eastern Plains along the border with Wyoming...
county commissioner and a former Republican member of the Colorado Senate. From 2003 to 2009, Johnson represented the 15th Senate District, encompassing rural Larimer County
Larimer County, Colorado
Larimer County is the seventh most populous and the ninth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is located at the northern end of the Front Range, at the edge of the Colorado Eastern Plains along the border with Wyoming...
and the cities of Loveland
Loveland, Colorado
Loveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
and Estes Park
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park is a town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. A popular summer resort and the location of the headquarters for Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park lies along the Big Thompson River. Estes Park had a population of 5,858 at the 2010 census...
. Previously he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1997 through 2002.
Biography
Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a D.V.M. from Colorado State UniversityColorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
, Johnson worked as a veterinarian in Loveland, Colorado
Loveland, Colorado
Loveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
, 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.
Johnson was a member of the Larimer County Planning Commission from 1987 to 1996, and was first elected to the State House in 1996. In 2002, he was elected to the State Senate over Democrat Kathy Gilliland, and was re-elected in 2006, defeating Democrat Jennifer Miller.
In the 2007-2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Johnson sat on the powerful Joint Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.
A moderate Republican, Johnson was the State Senate sponsor for Referendum C, a statewide measure to remove TABOR
Tábor
Tábor is a city of the Czech Republic, in the South Bohemian Region. It is named after Mount Tabor, which is believed by many to be the place of the Transfiguration of Christ; however, the name became popular and nowadays translates to "camp" or "encampment" in the Czech language.The town was...
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
Loveland, Colorado
Loveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
./ 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
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
class at Colorado State University. Since then, Johnson has placed a renewed emphasis on affordable health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, calling it a "moral issue" for the Republican Party.
In January 2008, Johnson, facing the end of his senate tenure in 2010, announced his candidacy for a seat on the Larimer County
Larimer County, Colorado
Larimer County is the seventh most populous and the ninth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is located at the northern end of the Front Range, at the edge of the Colorado Eastern Plains along the border with Wyoming...
Board of Commissioners.
External links
- Senator Steve Johnson personal website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Steve Johnson (CO) profile
- Follow the Money - Steve Johnson
- Rocky Mountain News - Steve Johnson candidate profile