Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Early years: Born in Greensboro, Guilford County, June 5, 1935, to James Calvin and Juanita (Hill) Johnson, Sr.

Education:
Spartanburg High School, 1954;
Spartanburg Junior College, 1956;
East Tennessee State University, 1958, B.S.;
Wake Forest University, School of Law, 1962; LL.B.

Professional Background:
Attorney, Federal attorney, State judge, President of North Carolina Domestic Judges Association, County Attorney, State Representative, State Senator, owner, Fort Johnson Military Museum, Inc.

Organizations:
Cabarrus County and N.C. State Bar Associations;
N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers;
American Judicature Society;
N.C. Juvenile Court Judges Association (former President);
Concord Jaycees (former N.C. Vice President and Nation Regional Director);
Phi Delta Phi. Chairman of Cabarrus Citizens for Philip Morris

Political Activities:
Member, N.C. Senate, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1989-90;
N.C. House of Representatives, 1967, 1969, 1971;
Attorney for Cabarrus County, 1966-70;
Judge;
Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court, 1963-66;
Attorney for U.S. District Court, N.C., 1962-63.

Military Service:
Active Reserves;
U.S. National Guard, 51st Division, South Carolina, 1953-56;
30th Armor Division, Tennessee, 1956-58;
30th Infantry Division, North Carolina, 1956-62

Honors:
Who’s Who in American Politics, 1967-68;
Outstanding Personalities of the South, 1967;
Outstanding Young Men of America, 1967;
One of three Outstanding Young Men of N.C., 1966

Literary Works:
Editor, The Guardian, 1964-65 (selected as the most outstanding publication of its kind in the U.S. by the National Council of Juvenile Court Judges).

Religious Activities:
Member, Central Methodist Church;
Sunday School Teacher

Family:
Married, Donna G. Hedgepeth;
Children, James Calvin III, Kay Lynn, and Jen Cherise

It has become obvious to Republican, Unaffiliated and Democrat voters that our present Cabarrus legislative delegation led by Senator Hartsell no longer listens to or cares about the average citizen and their needs.  Senator Hartsell also has all but forgotten that portion of the District in Iredell County, which included Mooresville.

Mr. Hartsell along with a few other elected officials are more interested in representing special interest, rich individuals, and outside corporations than taking care of the needs of the small business person, average citizen, our senior citizens who are on fixed income, and our educational needs.

Mr. Hartsell has been in the Senate for 18 years and Cabarrus County has not received the type of road improvements that adjoining counties have.  One only has to look at the road and traffic conditions on I-85, Poplar Tent, Highway 73, and Branchview just to name a few.  Additionally, Iredell has not received the help it needed while he has been their Senator.

When a Senator who leads the legislative delegation becomes so engrossed in his own views, involved with special interests and believes he is beyond questioning as to his performance, conflict of interest, and effectiveness by the citizens of our District, it’s time for him to come home.

This District has entered an exceptional period of growth, which has its good and bad sides.  While growth has its place and is necessary it should not be on the back of the average tax-paying citizen.  Millions of their tax dollars are being given in the name of growth incentives to those individuals and corporation who already have millions of their own.

Over 25,000 citizens in this Senate District, which is made up of Cabarrus and part of Iredell counties, have registered as unaffiliated primarily because they have become frustrated with both major parties.  I understand their frustration.