Independent candidate Timothy Dean Johnson is running for Boone County judge/executive, challenging Republican Chet Hand in the November general election.
Johnson has lived in Boone County for more than 50 years and graduated from Conner High School in 1979. He later attended Cincinnati Technical College, where he earned an associate degree while pursuing a career in aviation technology.
Johnson spent his career in the aviation industry, specializing in aircraft maintenance and avionics before finishing his career at GE Aviation. He holds Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant certification and worked in quality control during the latter part of his airline career.
Johnson said his experience with eminent domain initially sparked his interest in politics. His campaign has focused heavily on government transparency, property rights and how Boone County spends taxpayer dollars.
“I’m offering real transparency so the public can be assured their tax dollars are being put to good use,” Johnson said. “Those holding a public office need to be good stewards of the hard-earned tax dollars no matter the source.”
Infrastructure is another focus of Johnson’s campaign. He has criticized transportation planning around older areas of Boone County, arguing that existing roads have sometimes been neglected as development has expanded elsewhere.
If elected, Johnson said he would also look for ways to reduce county expenses, including considering electric vehicles as the county replaces fleet vehicles and expanding the use of solar power. He supports exploring publicly operated electric-vehicle charging stations as another potential source of revenue.
Housing is another area Johnson wants to address. He said he would examine whether small-scale “micro homes” could provide an affordable housing option and what local regulations might prevent their development.