Donna Johnson (mayor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donna Johnson
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| Mayor of Libertyville, Illinois | |
| Assumed office May 4, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Terry Weppler |
| Libertyville Board of Trustees | |
| In office 2007–2021 |
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| Personal details | |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Independent |
| Residences | Libertyville, Illinois |
Donna Johnson is an American politician who made history in 2021. She was elected as the first Black mayor of the city of Libertyville, Illinois. A mayor is the leader of a city's government.
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Early Life and Family
Donna Johnson grew up with her parents, Carol and Donald Tyler Johnson. Her mother was a leader on two important groups in Evanston, Illinois: the Civil Service Commission and the Human Relations Commission.
Her father studied at the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering. However, due to racial segregation at the time, which unfairly separated people based on their race, he could not get a job as a chemical engineer. Instead, he joined the Chicago Fire Department and worked his way up to become a battalion chief.
In 1979, Johnson's family moved from Evanston to Libertyville. She later went to college and earned a degree in political science from Michigan State University. She also earned a JD degree, which is a degree needed to become a lawyer.
Career in Law and Politics
From Lawyer to Trustee
Before becoming mayor, Johnson had a long career in law and public service. She worked as a prosecutor, a type of lawyer who represents the government in court, in both Cook County and Lake County. Later, she became a corporate attorney for the company Allstate.
Johnson was also very involved in her local community. She served for nine years on a board that helped plan how Libertyville would grow and develop. In 2007, she was elected to the Libertyville Board of Trustees. A trustee is a person elected to help make decisions for the town. As a trustee, she was in charge of the Streets Committee, which manages the town's roads.
Becoming Mayor of Libertyville
After serving as a trustee for 14 years, the mayor at the time, Terry Weppler, and others encouraged her to run for mayor. She ran for the position without any opponents and was elected on April 6, 2021.
Her election was a major event in the city's 185-year history. She became the first Black person and only the second woman to ever be mayor of Libertyville. When she was elected, only about 1.3% of the people in Libertyville were Black, according to the United States Census Bureau.
As mayor, Johnson focused on keeping the town's budget balanced and helping small businesses grow. Under her leadership, the town created the Libertyville High Five Grant program, which gave $170,000 to local businesses. In 2022, she also managed the sale of the town's indoor sports complex for over $3 million, which helped the village with its finances.
Personal Life
Donna Johnson is an active member of her community and her church. She has two children.
See also
