Otis Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Honorable
Otis Samuel Johnson
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 64th Mayor of Savannah, Georgia | |
| In office 2004–2012 |
|
| Preceded by | Floyd Adams Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Edna Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 3, 1942 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Alma mater | A.E. Beach High School Armstrong Junior College University of Georgia Clark Atlanta University Brandeis University |
| Profession | Educator |
| Website | official site: http://www.ci.savannah.ga.us/cityweb/webdatabase.nsf/E12F5A82DA01561685256AB6006C3E62/3F6DC97D79C23C2D85256AB7004832F7 |
Otis Samuel Johnson, born in 1942, is an American social worker, teacher, and politician. He served as the Mayor of Savannah, Georgia, from 2004 to 2012. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Otis Johnson grew up in Savannah, Georgia. He graduated from A.E. Beach High School in 1960. He then attended Armstrong Junior College, which is now Armstrong State University. He was the first African American student to graduate from that school in 1964.
Johnson continued his education at the University of Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967. He also served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1959 to 1965. Later, he earned a master's degree in social work from Clark Atlanta University in 1969. In 1980, he received his Ph.D. from Brandeis University.
Before Becoming Mayor
Before becoming mayor, Johnson worked in several important roles. He worked for the Economic Opportunity Authority. He also contributed to the Model Cities Program. Later, he worked at Savannah State University.
From 1983 to 1988, he was a City Council Representative. He represented the second district of Savannah. After that, he became the Executive Director of the Chatham Savannah Youth Futures Authority.
Political Journey
Serving as Alderman
Otis Johnson was an Alderman for District #2 in Savannah. He held this position from 1982 to 1988. An alderman is a member of a city council. He left this role in 1988 to lead the Chatham Savannah Youth Futures Authority.
Joining the School Board
In 1999, Johnson began a four-year term. He served on the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education. This board helps manage the schools in the area.
Becoming Mayor of Savannah
In November 2003, Otis Johnson was elected as the Mayor of Savannah. He won against several other candidates. He officially took office in January 2004.
As mayor, Johnson focused on important community issues. In 2005, he encouraged the African American community to work together. They aimed to reduce the city's high crime rate. He held town meetings to discuss these problems.
Johnson sought reelection in 2007. His campaign focused on improving neighborhoods and reducing poverty. He also worked to provide more affordable housing. He announced that Savannah was named a Preserve America city. This recognition came from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
On November 6, 2007, Johnson won his second term as Mayor. He received a large number of votes. He endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.
Personal Life
In 2006, Mayor Johnson had a heart attack. This happened while he was at a conference for black mayors. He was hospitalized for several weeks. However, he made a full recovery and returned to his duties.
