Name: Paul M. Johnson

Party: Republican

Age: 48

Address: 399 Marshall Johnson Road, Pilot Mountain, N.C., 27041; actually resides in the Westfield community, but has a Pilot Mountain address and has lived there for 46 years.

Family: Is the sixth of seven children of Frank and Allene Johnson, all raised in the Westfield Township.

Education: Westfield Elementary School; graduate of East Surry High School; attended Surry Community College.

Professional Experience: Was employed by Kentucky Derby Hosiery for 18 years, until local textile cutbacks began. Worked three years for Shaw Construction and is still classified as a company employee although he is temporarily laid off due to its work being project-based. Is a part-time farmer involved with produce, poultry and organic crops.

Previous Political Experience: Ran unsuccessfully for the District 2 seat on the Surry County Board of Education in 1990. Was elected to the Surry County Board of Commissioners in 1996 and has been re-elected every four years since. Ran unsuccessfully for Surry sheriff in 2002. Presently chairs the county board.

Community, Religious, Other Affiliations: Is a member of Friendly Chapel Church at Pilot Mountain, but also attends other Baptist and Methodist churches in the area. Has been a member of the Westfield Volunteer Fire Department and was a founder of the Westfield Booster Club, which he was involved with from 1982-2006. Is a charter member of the Westfield Ruritan Club.

Question: Why are you running for the Senate seat?

Answer: I am running for the Senate seat because I think that the district — Surry, Stokes, Yadkin and Alleghany counties — deserves better representation. I think we need someone younger and energetic who knows what the issues are and what the needs of my generation and the generations behind me are in order to prepare for the future. I just don’t feel like going to Raleigh and sitting in a seat and holding it just because it’s for one party or the other, then just voting “No,” is good representation. Another thing is, I have talked to our board and the commissioners in other counties. Our senator hasn’t talked to them.

If elected, I plan to be at different locations in each county of the district and let the citizens come in and meet with me, whether it be in Sparta, Yadkinville, Mount Airy or Danbury, just to say, “here I am and what are your concerns?” Also, I would stay in contact through email and regular mail and respond to them like they need to be responded to.

Question: What do you think makes you qualified for this office?

Answer: I think that certainly my 14 years as a county commissioner and my keeping up with the issues and studying the issues and listening to my constituents who tell me the concerns that they have. I have been keeping up with issues, studying and listening for a long time. I feel like my education through East Surry High School and Surry Community College and certainly my school of hard knocks in the field of politics has made me a seasoned veteran. I know what people want and what they need, and they want somebody who’s going to go to Raleigh and represent them and not introduce trivial bills or those geared toward special interests. The average citizen wants to be represented, and that’s what I intend to do if elected.

I feel that I am the best-qualified candidate because I listen to the people. I get out and about in the district and find out what is going on and what the people want. I’m not a person you see just during an election year. I’m a person who’s out and about every single day. I take notes and go back and study the issues and get back to the citizens on what can be done. I think I’m a good communicator.

Question: Everyone knows jobs are the key issue in this district, but what can you do specifically to meet this need?

Answer: When our economic-development people in each county are pursuing a recruitment effort, I’m going to be in touch with them on a regular basis and also try to work with the governor’s office, Department of Commerce or whoever I need to contact to help. I would say, “I’m your senator — what can I do to facilitate bringing this industry to Surry County?” That’s not what’s happening with our senator now. He doesn’t get involved with the Department of Commerce or city or county officials in any of the counties. It’s going to take someone with the compassion and the drive to be there.

Question: Other than jobs and economic development, what are the first changes you would try to bring about in state government?

Answer: There are a lot of changes I’d like to see. One concerns the 911 surcharge system we have now. I’d like to see money that is coming from Surry County go to Surry County, not Mecklenburg or Wake or any of the other counties like it is now. If that money is going to be paid, it needs to be used by the people who are paying it; if there’s no need or there’s a surplus, I want to cut taxes or fees to help businesses and encourage economic development. And I mean taxes across the board.

When I get my satellite bill, I’m almost afraid to look at it and see what has been added, and that is by the state government and not the federal government. We’re taxing ourselves into oblivion with so many taxes and fees added over the past 10 years.

I also want to look at our schools. Every time the state needs money, they go in and start cutting education every which way. We’ve got two superintendents in the state now — one who’s elected and one appointed who we don’t need. We should use the one we elected. Money for education needs to get allocated to the classroom and not some bureaucratic group in Raleigh. I’d just as soon do away with the Department of Public Instruction — they cause more harm than good anyway.

Also, I would like to look at ways the state can help improve the infrastructure of counties, including water and sewer and natural gas.



Question: Given problems such as the tendency of state government to raise taxes on citizens rather than cut the bureaucracy, how can public confidence in Raleigh be restored?

Answer: I think that those who are elected are going to have to start doing what the people want, and they’re going to have to be honest.