| Steve Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Colorado Senate from the 15th district |
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| In office January 8, 2003[1] – January 6, 2009[2] |
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| Preceded by | Stan Matsunaka |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Lundberg |
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 49th district |
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| In office January 1997 – January 8, 2003[1] |
|
| Succeeded by | Kevin Lundberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 21, 1960 Columbus, Ohio |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Lynette |
| Profession | veterinarian, educator |
| Religion | Baptist |
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.[3] Previously he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1997 through 2002.
Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a D.V.M. from Colorado State University, 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.[4]
Johnson was a member of the Larimer County Planning Commission from 1987 to 1996, and was first elected to the State House in 1996.[4] In 2002, he was elected to the State Senate over Democrat Kathy Gilliland, and was re-elected in 2006, defeating Democrat Jennifer Miller. [5] In the 2007-2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Johnson sat on the powerful Joint Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee. [6]
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.[7]/ 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.[8][9]
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.[10]
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