January 2010

Former Missouri LP Executive Director Bill Johnson runs for Governor of Alabama

By Francis Duckworth

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Many of the party faithful will remember Bill Johnson who served as Missouri Libertarian Party Executive Director in the mid 1990’s as well as running for the U. S. Senate in 1994. As far as I can find in the records, he still holds the honor of receiving the most votes for any Missouri Libertarian candidate statewide, 81,264 or 4 ½% of the total votes cast.

You might be interested to know that Mr. Johnson is a serious contender in the Republican Gubernatorial Primary in the State of Alabama where he has lived since leaving Missouri. Upon his return home to Alabama, Bill immediately became involved in Republican Party politics, helping run campaigns for U.S. Rep. (win) and Senate (lose) as well as the Governorship (win).

He was subsequently elected to the city council of Birmingham in 1997 where he served until appointed Asst. State Director of the Department of Economic and Community Affairs. In December 2005 he was promoted to Director, a cabinet position under the current governor, Bob Riley, a role which he has filled until his recent resignation in order the seek the Governor’s chair.

Although he is running as a Republican, Bill related in a recent interview with your correspondent that he is still very much a strong small libertarian as reflected in his positions on the many issues of today. If you would like to read more or contact Bill, you can do so through his web site: http://billjohnson.org

(Francis Duckworth is Jefferson County Libertarian Party Chair)