Mayor Johnson Seeks Another Term in Northville

The mayoral seat is up for re-election in the City of Northville on Nov. 5. Mayor Chris Johnson is running unopposed for the position. 

Johnson answered questions from Patch about why he should continue as mayor.

Could you tell us about your education, relevant to this position?

I am a graduate of Northville High School (1973).  I have a BGS degree from the University of Michigan (1978).  I have a JD from the Michigan State College of Law (1981).  Since that time, I have taken and taught a number of legal courses mainly in the field of municipal law.

Could you tell us about your personal or professional background, relevant to this position?

I have been an attorney with a specialization in municipal law for over 30 years.  I am a founding member of Johnson, Rosati, Schultz & Joppich, P.C. which is a well-known municipal law firm.  I have had the honor of serving the community as mayor since 1987 (26 years).  Prior to beingelected mayor, I serve on the Northville Board of Education for almost 11 ½ years.  That experience has been invaluable to help determine the priorities of the City Council.

How long have you lived in Northville?

I have been living in Northville since 1968.

Do you have an activity relevant to this position or an endorsement which you would like readers to know of?

Along with being mayor, I serve as the city’s representative to the South East Michigan Council of Governments, Conference of Western Wayne, South Oakland Mayor’s Association and the Michigan Municipal League.  I also serve on the Downtown Development Authority and the Northville Historic District Commission.

Could you summarize why you are running for mayor? 

I am running for mayor because I have and can make the difficult decisions that keep the city running smoothly.  Having a municipal government run well is actually more difficult than when I first took office.  The State of Michigan has slashed funding for cities in the past decade and property values dropped significantly after 2008. Based on the current laws that fund cities, it will still take years for the city rebound from that reduction.  I am a consensus builder that listens, learns and then acts.

What do you think are the greatest issues facing the city? How would you handle them?

The number 1 issue is still our financial survival.  Over the past several years the city has implemented painful cuts in all areas.  Simply put, we do things much differently than in the past.  Our emphasis on sharing services with our neighbors has resulted in better services at a reduced cost.  The number 2 issue is planning for our future.  We are starting a detailed review of the city’s master plan with emphasis on the track area and the civic center block (City Hall to the old Main Street Elementary building).  This plan needs to chart our vision of what we can realistically accomplish. 

What questions do you have for Johnson? Tell us in the comments.