Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Kevin Johnson (California)
Kevin Johnson (b. March 4, 1966) is a former mayor of Sacramento, California. Johnson was first elected in 2008, defeating incumbent Heather Fargo by 16 points in the election runoff.[1] Johnson won re-election in 2012. He did not seek a third term in 2016.
Biography
Johnson obtained a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. His professional experience includes playing professional basketball and working as the Chief Executive Officer of St. HOPE, a nonprofit focused on urban revitalization. In 2014, he was elected as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.[2]
Issues
Strong-Mayor proposal
In the November 2014 elections, citizens of Sacramento had the option to restructure their city's form of government. "Measure L" - also known as the Sacramento Checks and Balances Act of 2014 - asked citizens if the city should transition Sacramento's government from a council-manager system to a strong mayor and council system.
Measure L was not approved, but if it had passed, the Sacramento city manager would have been replaced by the mayor as the city's chief executive.[3] A similar initiative almost appeared on the June 8, 2010 elections, but a Sacramento judge ordered its removal.[4]
Throughout the 2014 election cycle, Johnson was a vocal supporter of Measure L. In an editorial published in the Sacramento Bee on October 10, 2014, he said, "We need a more regional economic development strategy. The city should have simpler, more streamlined processes to help our local and small businesses grow and compete. Sacramento has to create more high-quality jobs that lift residents out of poverty and into the middle class. And we require a re-energized approach to public safety that increases community engagement and demands a more comprehensive response to gang violence. We can address all these challenges and more. But to accomplish all this, a strong city needs a strong mayor. We should move to a mayor-council form of government, to follow the best practices of the vast majority of large cities across the country. As the only official elected by all city voters, the mayor should shape the most critical decisions facing the community. The mayor and City Council shouldn’t have to find out that the city manager hired a police chief via an email, or have no role in crafting the budget before it’s introduced."[5]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Johnson is married to Michelle Rhee, a former teacher and education policy activist. Rhee has two children from her prior marriage with Kevin Huffman, who has served as the Tennessee Commissioner of Education since April 2011.[6][7]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Kevin + Johnson + Sacramento.
See also
External links
- Office of the Mayor website
- Campaign website
- Social Media
Footnotes
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Sacramento elects former basketball star as mayor," November 6, 2008
- ↑ City of Sacramento, "Office of the Mayor," accessed October 20, 2014
- ↑ City of Sacramento, "Impartial Analysis of Measure L Prepared by Sacramento City Attorney," accessed September 2, 2014
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Sacramento judge intends to bar strong-mayor proposal from ballot," January 15, 2010
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Kevin Johnson: Measure L will help Sacramento succeed," October 10, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Department of Education, "Commissioner of Education," accessed November 23, 2012
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "Michelle Rhee just getting started on shaping California education policy," January 27, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Heather Fargo |
Mayor of Sacramento 2008–2016 |
Succeeded by Darrell Steinberg (D) |
 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
