Otis Johnson
Encyclopedia
Otis Samuel Johnson is a politician from Georgia
, U.S.
and, as of September 2007, the current Mayor of Savannah. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
in 1960, Armstrong Junior College (now Armstrong Atlantic State University
) in 1964 (the first African American
to graduate from that school) and the University of Georgia
(A.B.
) in 1967. He served from 1959 to 1965 in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1969, he earned a master's degree in social work from Clark College/ Atlanta University and, in 1980, he received his Ph.D.
from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University
.
Before becoming mayor, Johnson worked for the Economic Opportunity Authority, Model Cities Program
, and Savannah State University
. From 1983 until 1988, he served as the City Council Representative from the second district of Savannah. He then became the Executive Director of the Chatham Savannah Youth Futures Authority.
), and four other candidates. He took office in January 2004.
In April 2005, Mayor Johnson publicly challenged Savannah's African American community to begin a concerted effort to address the city's high crime rate, especially in predominantly black neighborhoods of the city. Johnson stressed that criminal acts in Savannah were often perpetrated by young African American males on their own community, and he called a series of well-attended town meetings to address the problem.
On April 2, 2007, Johnson announced he would seek reelection to the office of Mayor. His second campaign is similar to the first in that he is focused on neighborhood improvement, crime reduction, poverty reduction and providing more affordable housing.
While campaigning, Johnson announced that Savannah had been declared a Preserve America city by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
.
On November 6, 2007, Johnson beat a field of 5 other candidates to win a second term as Mayor. Johnson got 12,826 votes. His nearest competitor got 2,359 votes.
Johnson endorsed candidate Barack Obama
in the presidential election of 2008
.
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 4, 2003
Second Ballot, November 25, 2003
Mayor of Savannah, 2007
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 6, 2007
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and, as of September 2007, the current Mayor of Savannah. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Background
Mayor Johnson is a Savannah native who graduated from A.E. Beach High SchoolAlfred E. Beach High School
Alfred Ely Beach High School is one of the oldest public high schools located in Savannah, Georgia, USA.-History:In 1867, the Beach Institute was established by the Freedmen's Bureau with funds donated by Alfred Ely Beach, editor of Scientific American...
in 1960, Armstrong Junior College (now Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University, also referred to as Armstrong Atlantic, Armstrong, or simply AASU, is a four-year public university part of the University System of Georgia. It is located on a campus in suburban Savannah, Georgia, United States...
) in 1964 (the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to graduate from that school) and the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
) in 1967. He served from 1959 to 1965 in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1969, he earned a master's degree in social work from Clark College/ Atlanta University and, in 1980, he received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
.
Before becoming mayor, Johnson worked for the Economic Opportunity Authority, Model Cities Program
Model Cities Program
The Model Cities Program was an element of United States President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and War on Poverty. The ambitious federal urban aid program ultimately fell short of its goals....
, and Savannah State University
Savannah State University
Savannah State University is a four-year, state-supported, historically black university located in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah State holds the distinction as the oldest public historically black university in Georgia...
. From 1983 until 1988, he served as the City Council Representative from the second district of Savannah. He then became the Executive Director of the Chatham Savannah Youth Futures Authority.
City Alderman
Johnson served as the Alderman of District #2 in Savannah from 1982 to 1988. He resigned in 1988 to accept a position as Executive Director of the Chatham Savannah Youth Futures Authority.County Board of Education
In 1999, he began a four-year term on the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education.Mayor
In November 2003, Johnson was elected to a four-year term as Mayor of Savannah against two-term Alderman Pete Liakakis (DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
), and four other candidates. He took office in January 2004.
In April 2005, Mayor Johnson publicly challenged Savannah's African American community to begin a concerted effort to address the city's high crime rate, especially in predominantly black neighborhoods of the city. Johnson stressed that criminal acts in Savannah were often perpetrated by young African American males on their own community, and he called a series of well-attended town meetings to address the problem.
On April 2, 2007, Johnson announced he would seek reelection to the office of Mayor. His second campaign is similar to the first in that he is focused on neighborhood improvement, crime reduction, poverty reduction and providing more affordable housing.
While campaigning, Johnson announced that Savannah had been declared a Preserve America city by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
.
On November 6, 2007, Johnson beat a field of 5 other candidates to win a second term as Mayor. Johnson got 12,826 votes. His nearest competitor got 2,359 votes.
Johnson endorsed candidate Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in the presidential election of 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
.
Personal life
In 2006, Otis Johnson was hospitalized after he had a heart attack while attending a black mayor's conference. While he was away from City Hall for weeks, he made a full recovery.Electoral history
Mayor of Savannah, 2003Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 4, 2003
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Pete Liakakis | Democratic | 34% | Runoff |
| Otis Johnson | Democratic | 33% | Runoff |
| Frank Rossiter | Democratic | 17% | Defeated |
| Dicky Mopper | Republican | 16% | Defeated |
| Others | n/a | 1% | Defeated |
Second Ballot, November 25, 2003
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Otis Johnson | Democratic | 51% | Elected |
| Pete Liakakis | Democratic | 49% | Defeated |
Mayor of Savannah, 2007
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 6, 2007
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Otis Johnson | Democratic | 12,826 (70%) | Elected |
| Floyd Adams, Jr. Floyd Adams, Jr. Floyd Adams, Jr. is an American politician from Georgia, U.S. and a former Mayor of Savannah, Georgia. He is a Democrat.-Background:Adams was born on May 11, 1945, in Savannah, GA. He attended St. Pius X Catholic High School and received a degree from Armstrong Atlantic State University. He is... |
Democratic | 2,359 (13%) | Defeated |
| John McMasters | Republican | 2,205 (12%) | Defeated |
| Others | n/a | 1,023 (5%) | Defeated |
External links
- Mayor's official site
- otisjohnsonblog.com The Otis Johnson blog
- otisformayor.com Otis for Mayor campaign website