Ron Johnson
MN
Ron Johnson is a retired design and promotion manager at Lakeland Public Television who served 24 years on the Bemidji City Council and was president of the League of Minnesota Cities board. His priorities are affordable housing and public safety.
Where Ron Johnson stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (4 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
Voted to raise the legal age to buy tobacco in Bemidji to 21. It passed 5-1.
March 18, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 4 support · 1 oppose
Voted against a 9% preliminary city tax levy increase for 2025. It passed 4-3.
September 23, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against a 10.35% preliminary city tax levy increase for 2024. He said he would not back more than 9%. It passed 4-3.
September 18, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against a Real Solar proposal for solar panels at the Tourist Information Center, citing cost risk if a rebate fell through. It passed 4-3.
July 18, 2022Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against hiring the CSL firm for a $47,000 study of the Sanford Center. The hire failed 4-3.
August 16, 2021Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted to restore the historic Carnegie Library building with a $1,749,897 bid and to cover a $211,804 funding gap. It passed 4-3.
July 16, 2018Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Voted to restore the historic Carnegie Library building with a $1,749,897 bid and to cover a $211,804 funding gap. It passed 4-3.
July 16, 2018Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Track record — General
General · 14 records
Lost the Ward 1 council race to Gwenia Fiskevold Gould, 381 to 509, after redistricting moved him out of Ward 3.
November 5, 2024
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against dropping a proposed city rule that limited cannabis use in public places. The council dropped it 4-3.
August 21, 2023
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Lost the at-large council race to Audrey Thayer, 2,293 to 2,346.
November 8, 2022
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Was elected president of the League of Minnesota Cities for 2022-2023.
June 24, 2022
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Cast the only vote against the final new city ward map. It passed 6-1.
April 18, 2022
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted for council support of MnDOT's plan for three roundabouts on State Highway 197. It passed 4-2.
December 20, 2021
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Won another term in Ward 3, beating Greg Kuhn 927 to 608.
November 3, 2020
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Abstained when the council extended a mask requirement in indoor public places during COVID-19. It passed 3-1-1.
July 20, 2020
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against the 2020 budget for the city-owned Sanford Center, which passed 5-2. He voted for the overall 2020 city budget.
December 16, 2019
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against a motion that cleared City Manager Nate Mathews of allegations in a business groups' complaint. It passed 5-2.
September 9, 2019
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against adding three roundabouts to the Highway 197 business corridor. The plan failed 4-3.
August 19, 2019
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Received the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities President's Award. As its president, he led a push that won a $30 million rise in Local Government Aid.
July 25, 2019
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Was elected president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, a group that lobbies the Legislature for outstate cities.
July 27, 2018
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Cast the only vote against a new contract with VenuWorks to run the city-owned Sanford Center. He first moved to wait for an audit, which failed 2-5.
April 2, 2018
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Past race Ron Johnson ran in:
- City Council Member At-Large · November 3, 2026 · Bemidji city, Minnesota