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James Paul Johnson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Paul Johnson
Member of the Colorado Water Conservation Board
In office
1985–1987
GovernorRichard Lamm
Roy Romer
Member of the Colorado Supreme Judicial Court Nominating Commission
In office
1984–1986
GovernorRichard Lamm
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1981
Preceded byWayne Aspinall
Succeeded byHank Brown
Judge of the Ault Municipal Court
In office
1962–1965
Personal details
Born(1930-06-02)June 2, 1930
Yankton, South Dakota, U.S.
DiedNovember 16, 2023(2023-11-16) (aged 93)
Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationNorthwestern University (BA)
University of Colorado (LLB)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1952–1956
Battles/warsKorean War

James Paul Johnson (June 2, 1930 – November 16, 2023) was an American politician, lawyer and jurist from Colorado. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican from 1973 to 1981.

Early life and career

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Johnson was born in Yankton, South Dakota, on June 2, 1930, to Fred and Evelyn Johnson.[1][2] He earned his B.A. from Northwestern University in 1952 and later earned an LL.B. from the University of Colorado where he served on the board of editors for Volume 31 of the Rocky Mountain Law Review (now the University of Colorado Law Review). He graduated from law school in 1959.

In 1952, Johnson enlisted into the United States Marine Corps, where he was a first lieutenant, and served as a jet pilot during the Korean War from 1952 to 1956. Johnson met Nancy Brown, with whom he had two children, at Northwestern University and married on the same day of their graduation. They moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1959.[1][2]

Johnson was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1959 and briefly served in private practice prior to being named a deputy district attorney for the Eighth Judicial District of Colorado from 1959 to 1966. He was the Municipal Judge for Ault, Colorado from 1962 to 1965, and assistant district attorney from 1964 to 1966.

Political career

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Johnson served as member of the Poudre R-1 School Board, Fort Collins from 1969 to 1971 and served as delegate to Colorado State Republican conventions from 1960 to 1972.

Johnson unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in the 1966 election. He campaigned in opposition to the Vietnam War.[1]

During the 1972 elections he was elected to the House of Representatives and served until 1981. In February 1978 he apologized for stating that President "Carter didn't declare war on the West(ern United States) he bombed us without a declaration of war." in response to Carter's water project policies.[3]

Later life and death

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After leaving office he resumed practicing law in Fort Collins, Colorado. He served as member of the supreme court judicial nominating commission for state of Colorado from 1984 to 1986 and also served as a member of the Colorado Water Conservation Board from 1985 to 1987.

Johnson died on November 16, 2023, at the age of 93.[1]

Electoral history

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James Paul Johnson electoral history
1966 Colorado 4th Congressional District election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Wayne N. Aspinall (incumbent) 84,107 58.61% −4.41%
Republican James Paul Johnson 59,404 41.39% +4.41%
Total votes '143,511' '100.00%'
1972 Colorado 4th Congressional District election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James Paul Johnson 94,994 51.03% +6.11%
Democratic Alan Merson 91,151 48.97% −6.11%
Total votes '186,145' '100.00%'
1974 Colorado 4th Congressional District election[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James Paul Johnson (incumbent) 82,982 52.05% +1.02%
Democratic John Carroll 76,452 47.95% −1.02%
Total votes '159,434' '100.00%'
1976 Colorado 4th Congressional District election[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James Paul Johnson (incumbent) 119,458 54.05% +2.00%
Democratic Daniel Ogden 76,995 34.84% −13.11%
Independent Dick Davis 20,398 9.23% +9.23%
Independent Henry Thiel 4,167 1.89% +1.89%
Total votes '221,018' '100.00%'
1978 Colorado 4th Congressional District election[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James Paul Johnson (incumbent) 103,121 61.18% +7.13%
Democratic Morgan Smith 65,421 38.82% +3.98%
Total votes '168,542' '100.00%'

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Longtime Fort Collins public servant James Paul Johnson dies at 93". Fort Collins Coloradoan. November 18, 2023. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "James Johnson". The Denver Post. November 18, 2023. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "Johnson: 'I apologize'". The Daily Sentinel. February 12, 1978. p. 24. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "CO District 4 1966". January 27, 2018. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "CO District 4 1972". July 20, 2016. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "CO District 4 1974". September 6, 2017. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "CO District 4 1976". January 12, 2016. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  8. ^ "CO District 4 1978". June 26, 2003. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 4th congressional district
1973–1981 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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