Blair Johnson

Blair Johnson

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Toledo City Council At-large

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

Roy C. Start High School

Personal

Birthplace

Toledo, Ohio

Religion

Christian

Profession

Construction

Contact

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Blair Johnson (also known as Mr. Toledo) is running for election for an at-large seat of the Toledo City Council in Ohio. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025. The primary for this office on May 6, 2025, was canceled.

Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Blair Johnson was born in Toledo, Ohio. He earned a high school diploma from Roy C. Start High School. His career experience includes working in construction, as a real estate investor, at a library, with the United States Postal Service, as a school custodian, and as an operations manager for a national parking services company. He founded the Black Contractors Association of Toledo.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Toledo, Ohio (2025)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Toledo City Council At-large (6 seats)

The following candidates are running in the general election for Toledo City Council At-large on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Mac Driscoll (Nonpartisan)
		Carrie Hartman (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Brittany Jones (Nonpartisan)
		Nick Komives (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Cerssandra McPherson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	George Sarantou (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Ed Beczynski (Nonpartisan)
		Blair Johnson (Nonpartisan)
		Erin Kramer (Nonpartisan)
		Tom Names (Nonpartisan)
		Robert Pasker III (Nonpartisan)
		Tom Waniewski (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Nonpartisan primary election

The primary election was canceled.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Blair Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Johnson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Blair Johnson, a proud Toledo native, entrepreneur, real estate investor, and lifelong advocate for opportunity and service. I was raised in a family where public service was a way of life — my father served in the United States Navy, and my mother, a longtime public servant, has worked for the United States Postal Service since 2002, after earlier careers as a bus driver and paralegal. Their work ethic and commitment to serving others shaped the foundation of my life.

I have served my community firsthand across multiple roles, including working for the U.S. Postal Service, serving as a school custodian, working within the public library system, and leading corporate operations for a national parking services company. Each experience gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges working families face and strengthened my drive to build better systems and opportunities from the ground up.

As the founder of BMJ Enterprises LLC and the Black Contractors Association of Toledo, I have built businesses that focus on residential construction, property inspection, environmental safety, and contractor advocacy. I am also an active real estate investor committed to rebuilding neighborhoods and expanding local ownership opportunities.

Public service has never been a slogan for me — it’s been my way of life. I’m running for Toledo City Council to continue that legacy, lead with integrity, and deliver real solutions that move Toledo forward.

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?

• Empowering People & Small Businesses – Investing in jobs, entrepreneurship, and economic growth that benefits everyone.
• Building Safer, Stronger Communities – Improving housing, infrastructure, and public safety to enhance everyday life.
• Leadership That Works for You – A trusted advocate focused on real solutions and accountability.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about economic development, small business growth, and community revitalization. As a business owner, I know firsthand how important it is to create opportunities that empower entrepreneurs and working families. I also care deeply about improving housing quality, ensuring safe neighborhoods, and investing in infrastructure that strengthens our communities. Public policy should work for the people, and I am committed to pushing for smart, practical solutions that uplift our city and drive long-term success.

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

I look up to my parents. They worked hard, served the community, and never made excuses. They taught me that success is built on consistency, sacrifice, and service, not shortcuts.

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

There isn’t one book or movie that shaped my political philosophy. My views were shaped by real life, working hard, serving the community, running a business, and seeing firsthand where government helps and where it falls short. I believe leadership is about common sense, accountability, and making sure regular people are heard and respected.

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

An elected official has to be honest, accountable, and connected to the people they serve. You need the courage to make tough decisions, the discipline to stay consistent, and the humility to remember you work for the public, not yourself. If you don't have integrity, you don't belong in leadership. It's about serving the community first, not building a career.

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

I have integrity, real-world experience, and a commitment to results over rhetoric. I know how to listen, lead, and deliver without getting caught up in political games. I’m a laborer and an everyman, I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. I understand hard work because I live it. I’m not running to sit behind a desk and talk about problems, I’m running to fix them.

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

The core responsibility of a City Council member is simple: serve the people, not personal interests. That means being accessible, responsive, and rooted in common-sense decision-making. Council members must ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely, that city services operate effectively, and that government remains transparent and accountable. Beyond legislation, the role demands hands-on leadership: addressing blight, improving public safety, supporting local businesses, and advocating for real economic opportunity for all residents, not just the connected few. In short, it’s about getting results, not making excuses.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy where the work speaks for itself. Safer streets, stronger neighborhoods, real opportunities for people who have been overlooked too long. I want people to say that when there was a problem, I showed up, I got my hands dirty, and I made it better not for headlines, but because it needed to be done.

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

The first historical event I remember is the Million Man March in Washington, D.C., in 1995. I was five years old. My father took me we traveled by bus from Cleveland to D.C. to be part of it. Even though I was young, I remember the powerful feeling of unity, pride, and responsibility as thousands of Black men came together. That moment left a lasting impact on how I see leadership, community, and service.

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

My first job was working as an AV Page at the Main Library in downtown Toledo, part of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library system. I managed audiovisual materials like movies, music, and equipment. I worked there from 2006 to 2009. It taught me responsibility, organization, and how to work with people from all walks of life, lessons that have stuck with me ever since.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency and government accountability are non-negotiable. Taxpayers have every right to know where their money is going, how decisions are made, and who is responsible when things go wrong. Without transparency, public trust erodes, and dysfunction takes root without accountability. I believe city budgets, contracts, and operations must be fully accessible and understandable to the public. Elected officials are stewards, not owners, of public resources. We must protect, not waste, the public’s trust and investments.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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