Mike Johanns

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Mike Johanns
28th United States Secretary of Agriculture
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 21, 2005
Under President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Ann Veneman
41st Governor of Nebraska
In office 1999 – 2005
Preceded by	Ben Nelson
Succeeded by	Dave Heineman
Born	June 18, 1950 (age 56) Osage, Iowa
Political party	Republican
Religion	Roman Catholic

Michael Owen Johanns (born June 18, 1950) is an American Republican politician. A former Governor of Nebraska, he serves as the 28th, and current, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He is the second Nebraskan to hold the position.

[edit] Early history

Johanns was born in Osage, Iowa and grew up living and working on his family's farm. After graduating from high school, Johanns went on to study at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona. He earned a law degree from Creighton University. After his graduation, Johanns began practicing law in O'Neill and Lincoln, Nebraska.

Johanns served on the Lancaster County Board from 1983-1987, and on the Lincoln City Council from 1989-1991. He was elected mayor of Lincoln in 1991 and 1995. He successfully ran for Governor of Nebraska in 1998.

Johanns was elected Governor in 1998 by defeating Democratic opponent Bill Hoppner by a margin of 54% to 46%. He won reelection in 2002 by a landslide, defeating Democrat Stormy Dean by a margin of 69% to 27%.

[edit] Current

On December 2, 2004, Johanns was nominated by President George W. Bush to replace outgoing Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. As a result, he scrapped plans to run against Democratic Senator Ben Nelson in 2006. Johanns was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 20, 2005, hours after Bush's second inauguration. He tendered his resignation as Governor of Nebraska on that day. On the next day he was sworn in.

Johanns is married to Stephanie Johanns, a former Lancaster County Commissioner and Nebraska State Senator. They have two children.

[edit] External links

• White House Biography
• USDA Biography

Preceded by Bill Harris	Mayor of Lincoln 1991 — 1998	Succeeded by Dale Young
Preceded by Ben Nelson	Governors of Nebraska 1999 — 2005	Succeeded by Dave Heineman
Preceded by Ann Veneman	United States Secretary of Agriculture Served Under: George W. Bush 2005 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Dirk Kempthorne	United States Presidential Line of Succession 9th in line	Succeeded by Michael Leavitt
Preceded by Dirk Kempthorne	United States order of precedence as of 2007	Succeeded by Carlos Gutierrez

Governors of Nebraska
Butler • James • Furnas • Garber • Nance • Dawes • Thayer • Boyd • Thayer • Boyd • Crounse • Holcomb • Poynter • Dietrich • Savage • Mickey • Sheldon • Shallenberger • Aldrich • Morehead • Neville • McKelvie • Bryan • McMullen • Weaver • Bryan • Cochran • Griswold • Peterson • Crosby • Anderson • Brooks • Burney • Morrison • Tiemann • Exon • Thone • Kerrey • Orr • Nelson • Johanns • Heineman

United States Secretaries of Agriculture
Colman • Rusk • Morton • Wilson • Houston • Meredith • HC Wallace • Gore • Jardine • Hyde • HA Wallace • Wickard • Anderson • Brannan • Benson • Freeman • Hardin • Butz• Knebel • Bergland • Block • Lyng • Yeutter • Madigan • Espy • Glickman • Veneman • Johanns

Persondata
NAME	Johanns, Mike
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Johanns, Michael Owen
SHORT DESCRIPTION	28th United States Secretary of Agriculture
DATE OF BIRTH	June 18, 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH	Osage, Iowa, United States
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH