D.J. Johnson

D.J. Johnson was born and lives in Owensboro, Kentucky. Johnson graduated from Apollo High School.[1] He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1979 to 1990 and reached the rank of captain.[1] Johnson earned a B.A. in communications from Western Kentucky University in 1979.[2] His career experience includes working as the general manager of Midwest Rigging Supply.[2][3]

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased Oct 27, 2020

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is DJ Johnson. I’m the Kentucky State Representative for the 13th district, which includes much of Owensboro and parts of Daviess County. I was born and raised in Owensboro, graduated from Apollo High School in 1975, and WKU in 1979. I am married to the former Ellen Wilhoyte, also of Owensboro. We’ve now been married for 43 years. I was also commissioned in the United States Army that year. I served for 11 years, completing my military career as a Captain.

I then entered the world of small business, owning and managing businesses since 1990, most recently managing Owensboro Car Wash, Inc. I first became your state representative in 2017. Since then, I’ve personally sponsored or supported bills that have reinforced our religious freedoms, secured our second amendment rights, protected the sanctity of life, improved education for our children, and reduced the negative impact of government in our lives.

I’ve successfully fought for balanced budgets, lower personal income tax rates, and job-creating economic policies.

While I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, we must always look to the future. Please see details of my vision for improving Daviess County and Kentucky in the remainder of this profile. Thank you.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I will do everything possible to make Daviess County the best place in the United States to live, earn a living, and raise a family. To achieve this goal we must protect our God-given, constitutionally-ensured freedoms; provide a safe and secure community in which to live; create the best possible economic environment for personal financial success; and provide our children with the highest quality educational program in the nation. I have always worked for and will continue to work for these critical goals. For a more complete discussion of my issues, please go to DJforKentucky.com.Of the brief list of priorities i noted above, one of the most critical areas is education. And when we say education, we are talking about everything from pre-K through ongoing adult education opportunities. I am on the Greater Owensboro Partnership for Early Childhood Development. I work closely with the Superintendents of both the DCPS and OPS school systems. I am working closely with the Owensboro Community Technical college on projects such as GOFAME and the Commonwealth West Healthcare Workforce Innovation Center. The Workforce Innovation Center will be based in Owensboro, and will revolutionize healthcare training. I also teach Government at Grace Christian Academy in Owensboro.We have made great strides in improving Kentucky since I first became your Representative in 2017. We have lowered your personal income taxes. We have balanced our state budget. We have begun the methodical process of modernizing our ancient tax code. We have strengthened our individual protections from an overly intrusive state government. We have begun the critical process of modernizing our education system. We have created a business environment that has resulted in an unprecedented wave of economic growth, and high-paying jobs. In short, we have put Kentucky on the course to achieving that goal of being the best place to live in America. I intend to continue that work for as long as I am your Representative.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I believe that the United States of America is the greatest country in the history of humankind. I believe that Kentucky is the best place to live in America. And I believe that the foundational laws and principles of our country must be protected. The Kentucky House of Representatives has suffered from almost a century of mis-management. In 2017, I joined with others to begin correcting the problems that the previous lack of care for Kentuckians caused. Below are some of my priorities:

I am passionate about giving every Kentucky citizen the opportunity to reach the highest levels of achievement that they want. This starts with eliminating every state law, rule and regulation that hinders people from succeeding. Reducing government interference in our lives will be a key priority for me in the next term.

I am passionate about allowing you to keep more of your hard-earned money. I will stand firm on no tax increases, and will hold fast to the plan to reduce the personal state income tax rate to 0% in the next 8 years.

I am passionate about providing each of us a safe and secure community in which to live. I have always supported our law-enforcers and first-responders, and always will. I am currently working with local prosecutors, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel to review any changes to state law that will improve our safety.

I am passionate about education. As detailed above, I will always work to improve education from childhood to adulthood.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I am a Christian, so first and foremost, Jesus Christ. I have had many mentors and role models over the years. That would start with my parents. They taught me about honesty, integrity, and self-sacrifice. I owe them everything. I swam competitively from age 6 thru college. My first coach was Adrian Hayes. He taught me about passion, teamwork, and goal setting. I consider every officer I served with in my first military unit, the 1st Battalion/509th Airborne Battalion Combat Team as role models. They were an incredible cadre of officers.

I wish I could be more like President Abraham Lincoln. He mastered his weaknesses and fears in order to lead our country through the most turbulent times in our nation's history. He never looked for the easy path, but the right path, in all that he did. I strive to do the same.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

It's not about politics, but I recommend everyone read "Man's Search for Meaning", by Viktor Frankl. It was a major source of inspiration for me at a time when I was doing just that.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, compassion and commitment. A servant's heart. The ability to listen. A respect for the Constitution.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Integrity, compassion. A servant's heart. The ability to listen. A respect for our country and our Constitution.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

We are elected by our constituents, so we must listen to and respond to those constituents. We represent our individual districts, but serve every resident of Kentucky. Those two dynamics should drive a Representative's actions.

A Representative's core responsibility is to make good law, period. Probably the most critical law we make is passing the biennial budget. It sets the priorities for the entire state for the next two years.

What legacy would you like to leave?

To have Kentucky recognized as the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination of JFK. I was six years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Not counting delivering papers, shoveling snow, and mowing yards, my first official job was working at McDonalds. I started when I was 16, and worked there while I was in college. Approximately 3 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Other than the Bible, "The Past Through Tomorrow", by Robert Heinlein.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Lazarus Long in the "Future History" series of books by Robert Heinlein.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Stranglehold by Ted Nugent.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Pancakes. I love Cracker Barrell pancakes. My level of exercise no longer supports my pancake intake. The pounds add up.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The proper relationship between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch is clearly defined in both our federal and state constitutions. The General Assembly is responsible for enacting state laws, and the Governor, supported by the Executive Branch, implements the laws. The ideal relationship between the two branches exist when both branches understand what they are responsible for, and more important, what they are not responsible for. Sometimes there is agreement between the two branches on how to serve the commonwealth, sometimes not. This is not only true, but necessary. It is that separation of powers and the need to compromise that provides the checks and balances critical to a thriving democracy. And the judiciary keeps an eye on both of the other branches.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

1. Funding our pension systems. Decades of underfunding have created a crisis in our pension systems. Since 2015, we have begun to not only fully fund the pensions, but have also provided additional funding. We must stay the course to save our pensions. It will take several years to get our funds healthy, but if we stay the current course, it will happen,

2. As I have said multiple times above, safety and security will always be a priority. We must continue to strive for a balance between personal freedom and community safety. It will never be easy, but it must be done.

3. Effective education policies must be developed. For decades, Kentucky has lagged behind other states in this area. We must review how we do education and modernize our procedures with the best interest of each and every student as the very top priority.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

We have a bicameral legislature for a reason. The Senate focuses more on broad-reaching policy issues, while the House members are the most closely connected state-level elected officials. It is their job to keep in close touch with their constituents, and represent them as well as local governments.

I see no benefit to a unicameral legislature.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

It can be a benefit, but is certainly not necessary. I didn't.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Of course. We do not live in a static environment, Having trusted relationships allows for real and honest discussion of the issues without judging each other. Good communications in all levels lead to good laws.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

The current process actually works. When the majority party actually follows the guidelines as stated in our constitution, the process works. The majority party does the bulk of the work, but they listen to the concerns of the minority party and others. And the judiciary provides oversite. This combination of communication, cooperation and oversight works. It did in Kentucky this year.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

N/A

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

I'm on four committees: State Government; Local Government; Economic Development and Workforce Investment; and Energy and Natural Resources.

I picked State Government because it deals with the widest spectrum of issues across the Commonwealth.

I picked Local Government because I felt it would best allow me to interact with our city and county governments.

I picked Economic Development because I consider that one of the most critical aspects of state government's involvement in our daily lives.

I picked Energy and Natural Resources because of the large presence of both in our region.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I look for admirable traits in all of our legislators. Nobody is perfect, so I don't limit myself to just one person.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Not at this time.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

There have been so many it's hard to pick just one. It is the most gratifying and enjoyable part of this job. I'll describe one story from the most recent legislative session, which will also describe my philosophy with respect to sponsoring legislative bills. Last winter, Jeremy Camron, the principal for our local alternative high school program, came to me with a situation. He had high school seniors who had a history of not progressing towards a high school diploma, but, too late, recognized how important that degree would be in adult life. The problem was that even though they had no chance to graduate, they had to stay in school until they were 18 years old. Additionally, they could not start the process to get their GED until they were out of high school. The classic Catch-22. Working with Principal Camron, the Kentucky Association of School Administrators and others, I sponsored a bill to correct this problem. The bill allows for these students, with the approval of the local School Superintendent, to begin the process of obtaining their GED while still in high school, rather than just mark time until they turn 18. This allows them to enter the adult job market with that all-important GED when they finish school. This will affect a small number of students, but for those students, it will prove to be life-changing. This is the process I use when considering bills to sponsor. Be available to my constituents; listen to their problems; and where possible and appropriate, fight for the legislative changes needed to improve the lives of my constituents.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

This goes back to the principle of constitutional checks and balances between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. The Governor must have, and does have, the authority to act during emergency situations in the commonwealth. The perfect example is the tragic flooding now happening in Eastern Kentucky. The Governor can not be expected to ask for approval of the General Assembly to act in these emergency situations. The problem comes when a Governor uses an emergency, or simply declares an emergency, to enact laws of his or her own. An example would be when our current Governor unilaterally began creating laws under the auspices of the Covid-19 outbreak. He unilaterally declared that some businesses and institutions could stay open (for example, big box stores, groceries, abortion centers, and liquor stores), but demanded that other entities (cancer treatment centers, churches, restaurants, etc.) must close until he deems it safe to open. This crossed the line from responding to short-term emergency situations to creating laws while bypassing the legislative process. The final check and balance occurred when the Kentucky Supreme Court repeatedly ruled that the Governor overstepped his authority when he made these unilateral laws. This is a perfect example of our constitutional process working properly.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. Government without compromise (or simply working for the common good) is dictatorship. While I will not sacrifice my core values, I can and do work with anyone who will work with me, regardless of political leanings or station in life.

D.J. Johnson did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Johnson's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[9]

A growing economy: A thriving economy needs government policies that encourage new businesses to locate in Kentucky and support business growth.

Quality education: We must help our children, teenagers, and young adults find what career choices they are passionate about, and then help them be the very best they can be in those careers.

A responsible budget: As in our own households, our state government must operate within its financial means.

Pro-life: DJ Johnson is a pro-life conservative and will fight to protect the lives of the born and unborn in Kentucky.

Protection of our freedoms: As a constitutional conservative, DJ Johnson will fight to protect our government from impinging on our rights, particularly our right to worship our Lord without government interference, and our right to bear arms without government restrictions.[10]