Bert Johnson (Michigan politician) facts for kids

Bertram "Bert" Johnson (born October 20, 1973) is a Democratic former member of the Michigan Senate and a convicted criminal.

Johnson previously represented the 2nd district, which comprises northeast Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and all five Grosse Pointe Communities. From 2007 to 2010, Johnson served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives.

Education

Johnson attended University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. He subsequently attended the University of Detroit Mercy, where he studied Criminology and Security Administration.

Political career

From 2001 to 2006, Johnson worked as chief of staff to then-Representative Bill McConico.

2007 House election

Term limits forced McConico out of office at the end of 2007, and Johnson won a 12-candidate primary to succeed him in the heavily Democratic state House District 5. Former House Speaker Craig DeRoche considered not seating Johnson in the state House because of his felony criminal record, but the Highland Park Democrat was sworn in and seated by January 2007.

While serving in the State House, Johnson was named Chair of the "Detroit Caucus", which is composed of the twelve State Representatives and five State Senators whose districts include Detroit. He was also Chair of the House Committee on Regulatory Reforms and sat on the Health Policy, Energy and Technology, Banking and Financial Services and Public Employee Health Care Reform committees.

2010 Senate election

In 2010, Senator Martha G. Scott was forced to vacate the 2nd Senate District due to term limits. In the August 2010 Primary, Johnson beat out former State Representative Ken Daniels. After the election, Johnson was named the campaign chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

During his legislative tenure, Johnson possessed the worst attendance record in the state Legislature. No state legislator missed more votes than Johnson, who has missed 712 of 5,115 roll calls, according to data compiled by MichiganVotes.org.

2012 U.S. Congress election

Johnson lost a 2012 bid for the U.S. House, finishing fourth in a Democratic primary dominated by John Conyers.

2014 Senate election

Instead of challenging Conyers again, Johnson chaired Conyers' re-election campaign in 2014, while cruising to re-election in the Michigan Senate.

Future prospects

Due to his conviction on a felony involving "dishonesty, deceit, fraud or a breach of the public trust", Johnson is barred under state law from holding state or local office for 20 years.

Personal life

Johnson is single with four children. He has one daughter, India and three sons, Bertram, Nicholas and David.

See also

• Michigan House of Representatives
• Michigan Senate
• Michigan Democratic Party