Timothy D. Johnson, a retired aircraft mechanic running as an independent, is seeking the Boone County judge/executive seat in the Nov. 3 general election. Johnson described himself as "an aircraft mechanic by trade, not a politician" in a candidate questionnaire submitted to the Florence-Union Journal.
Johnson said his candidacy is not about pay, title or ambition but about offering transparency on how tax dollars are spent. He said a personal eminent domain dispute triggered his interest in politics, alleging the system has been "gamed to enable government to rob some property owners while stuffing the pockets of others."
Candidate information
- Office sought: Boone County Judge/Executive
- Party: Independent
- Education: Conner Sr. High School, Class of 1979; associate degree in applied science for aviation technology, Cincinnati Technical College
- Family: Married to wife Diane for 39 years; one daughter. Johnson noted that Les Hill, the Boone County sheriff, is a family member and has endorsed his opponent, Chet Hand.
- Occupation: Licensed aircraft mechanic (retired). Worked in avionics at Comair, spent more than 19 years at DHL/ASTAR, served in quality control at PEMCO and finished his aviation career at GE Aviation in Evendale.
- Previous elected office: None
Experience
Johnson said he has no prior elected or appointed office. He has registered as a Republican, a Democrat and an Independent at various points, writing that he votes for candidates "based on their fruits regardless of party."
He pointed to his aviation career as evidence he can handle the job. In quality control, he reviewed other mechanics' work with the authority to ground an aircraft. "Once the work was complete and I inspected the aircraft for flight, if all looked good, I would sign the airworthiness release allowing the aircraft to be returned to service," he wrote.
On the issues
Government accountability and eminent domain
Johnson said he discovered what he called corruption in how eminent domain and highway easement compensation are handled in Boone County. He alleged some property owners received outsized payments while others were forced into court. He said he intends to end the corruption and educate the public on how to identify it.
Growth and development
Johnson said the county's comprehensive plan should continue its periodic reviews but should add a revision-tracking ledger explaining each change. He said he would shift focus toward neglected roads and infrastructure. "I'm not afraid to say no if the roads, schools, or services cannot support new development," he wrote.
Housing affordability
Johnson said he supports a maximum of eight building lots per acre. He said accessory dwelling units could offer a quick solution to housing costs but noted potential conflicts with homeowners associations, parking and code requirements. He said lower-cost housing would be best located near inner-city areas or industrial parks.
Homelessness
Johnson said Boone County has no homeless shelters. He proposed that federal highway development funds include a 1 percent allocation for homeless shelters within the district. He cited what he called an example of excessive easement compensation, more than $71,000 for 174 square feet of ditch, and said a fraction of such spending could address homelessness in Northern Kentucky.
The Nov. 3 general election ballot includes the Boone County judge/executive race; residents can check registration and polling information through the Boone County Clerk's office.
