Mike Johnson for Chico City Council 2024

I'm running for District 7 for Chico city council. The current city council has bungled homelessness, and I know we can do better!

Mike Johnson For Chico City Council

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<h2>Who the heck is Mike Johnson?</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/31e4121b-8012-45b7-8b5c-3421cf4243b6/1349bcc8-18eb-4b03-b09a-05ab3f090b9d/1349bcc8-18eb-4b03-b09a-05ab3f090b9d.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C4000%2C3000&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h4>Who am I?</h4>I'm a proud small-business owner, a commissioned officer in the US Navy Reserve, and an involved citizen. I've lived in Chico since 2010. I've owned and managed an information technology consulting firm since 2004, and I was educated at Chico State and American River College in Sacramento. I’m married, with five kids between us (along with a wonderful chocolate lab, and an absolutely useless housecat). We love living in Chico, with all of its small-town charm and all of the benefits of a major public university.One of our daughters is an adult with severe special needs, who would be homeless herself without us and the many resources available to us here.I'm a commissioned officer in the US Navy and US Navy Reserve, with over 26 years of enlisted and officer service under my belt. I’ve also served on the Red Bluff Union Elementary School Board, and I was the PTA president at Chico High.<h4>Why am I running?</h4>I'm very concerned at the incompetence of most of the current city council. I love this city and its people, and I think this city council is failing the people of Chico.Six out of seven members of the current city council are doing a terrible job and are wasting your money and time.Chico deserves better than to have city council-members who don't know what they're doing. They've wasted so much money on policing homelessness, which doesn't solve anything, while at the same time, they've been unable to ensure that there are enough shelter beds and housing for all the homeless folks in Chico. And they've neglected the fire safety in District 1 by not planning for and building a new fire station for this fast-growing area.<h4>The City Council has failed to meaningfully address homelessness.</h4>The overwhelming majority of homeless people want shelter and housing! But they can't get it. Currently the city only has about a third of open shelter beds for all the homeless folks in Chico. This council has had years to make sure there's enough shelter beds for everyone, and they've failed.The current policy approach of harassing them until they "go back where they came from" isn't working. It's far more expensive in the long run to hire more police to chase homeless folks around than to provide adequate shelter and housing.Fact check: most homeless folks in Chico are from here and want to stay here. And most homeless folks are far more at risk of being injured by housed people than the other way around.<h4>The City Council has failed to address fire safety in District 1.</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/31e4121b-8012-45b7-8b5c-3421cf4243b6/db9c13c8-c3eb-4dba-b46c-08491f265a7f/db9c13c8-c3eb-4dba-b46c-08491f265a7f.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1440%2C1800&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="35" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">District 1 only has one fire station in a fast-growing area, which has led to response times that are DOUBLE that of the national average. The city has known for years that the area currently in District 1 has needed a new fire station, but they've failed to plan for it. So far they've only found $1.5 million for a new fire station, but they need $21 million more. My opponent’s supporters on the inept council majority, from the dais, recommended has proposed a new dispensary tax, which would be laughably inadequate for raising enough funds. The people in District 1 deserve modern fire-fighting response with a new fire station, especially considering how fast the north side of town is growing and the increased fire risks we all face in this area.Mike Johnson is an officer in the US Navy Reserve. Use of his military rank, job titles, and/or photographs in uniform, does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.

Chico is facing critical decisions about our future, and we deserve balanced, practical solutions. Let's invest in infrastructure, rebuild our roads, and make Chico safer and stronger without overextending our budget. It's time for effective leadership, accountability and sanity in local government, compassionate solutions, and real results.

<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>These are some of the top issues our campaign is focused on. Learn more about our issues <a href="/issues" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Our Campaign’s Top Issues

The current city council conservative majority has failed and my opponent would continue with the same failed policies. My opponent wants MORE money for cops—at $36 million already (nearly 40% of the budget), how much more? 50%? 75%? Meanwhile; emergency response times throughout our district are double the national average thanks to no fire station, and firefighters are paid 30% less than the next 15 cities of comparable size in California.CPD already can’t recruit enough street cops, since they’re tired of being overworked so much (and on ineffective nonsense like this)—the word is out, that Chico has become a terrible place to be a cop.He had FIVE YEARS—as the CHIEF, no less—to fix CPD. He FAILED. And now, he… wants a promotion?We need to properly fund our Fire Protection Services and build Fire Station 6. We need to repair our roads and implement cutting edge mobile phone infrastructure, so there's no more dropped calls.We can work more effectively with local Non-Governmental Organizations, like the DCBA, Chamber of Commerce, Commercial Real Estate developers, to reinvest towards a thriving downtown business environment.We can fund this with savings from:<ul><li>fixing the Chico Police Department mismanagement and their bungled homelessness approach;</li><li>freeze on top salaries;</li><li>top-to-bottom review of city spending since 2018, especially with so much closed session work;</li><li>ending of legal fights over Legal Services agreement;</li><li>a bond measure.</li></ul>

Building of Fire Station 6 is of paramount importance: "when seconds count, it shouldn’t take minutes to arrive"—our fire department deserves the support it needs.

Write a short blurb about an issue your campaign is highlighting. Try to keep the text a similar size between the various issue blurbs.

Improving Public Safety and Infrastructure

The current city council conservative majority has utterly failed in their approach to homelessness, choosing to take a law enforcement approach that doesn't actually solve anything. We have endless police overtime, cops who are exhausted and discouraged, and a downtown that's a shell of what it was when the current majority took office a few years ago. They've wasted millions of your dollars on ineffective, impotent, useless ‘enforcement’ that makes us NO safer. And homelessness is as bad as ever.To properly meet the needs of all the citizens of Chico, we must create more smaller shelter sites, with;<ul><li>better access to social services,</li><li>improved sanitation and hygiene,</li><li>less criminality and substance use,</li></ul>Each unhoused person we can successfully reintegrate into society can yield an economic return of approximately $2,000 per year in additional tax revenue, in addition to cost savings from unneeded police overtime.So many great local organizations are already doing the work to help move people from homelessness to housing: Chico Housing Action Team with Everhart Village for people with severe mental illness, True North with the Torres Shelter, and the Jesus Center and their Pallet shelter site. They need more support for the work they're doing. But we know we don't have enough shelter beds in Chico for all the homeless people who live here. We have hundreds of people who are homeless but <a href="https://chico.ca.us/City-Services/Housing--Homelessness/Shelter-Bed-Availability/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">by the city's own website</a>, there are fewer than fifty available shelter beds. We need to help those organizations expand their work so they can move more people off the streets, and we can help other organizations that have been blocked by this city council from creating solutions that would help reduce homelessness.

By addressing the root causes of homelessness we free up critical resources. This doesn’t just improve public safety; it allows us to redirect funds to critical needs like building Fire Station 6.

Addressing Homelessness

The Current City Council has:<ul><li>shirked their duties;</li><li>failed to provide transparency and accountability;</li><li>demonstrated institutionalized stupidity and disrespect;<ul><li>Speaking on the grand jury report from 2024 Sean Morgan: "“I find this offensive, and think the city should tell the grand jury to go pound sand,”</li></ul></li><li>failed to address homelessness in any meaningful way;</li><li>promoted a policy of whack-a-mole towards many critical issues facing the community;</li></ul>

Chico deserves leadership that delivers real results, not the same recycled promises. The current city council has failed us, dodging accountability and offering band-aid solutions to the homelessness crisis.

Quality Leadership

Listen to this great interview with me and Ken Dovol at NSPR where I discuss my priorities &amp; why I'm running. It's simple: the conservative majority on the council has failed. I know we can do better!

<h3>Contribute now to support our campaign!</h3>

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I want to meet you!

Campaign Events

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Coffee with Mike!

Come and meet Mike, and find out why he's the best choice for Chico District 1! He wants to hear from you about your concerns for the district and how we can make the whole city a place we can be proud of.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ilikemike?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZV4gGYMdpOAvS4zv3hU7X3uQXenc4L29EL6H60weztPu0S9Y1RYV3gP7lFOjzh1pUf83YdofCjXwjcEheSMBYRzk9ddRs0oIHGd-Cfoq63qI9U4A5pH3Oh_5frDtrUwlBz-fTFT2qq5nVSJ0ielrThZKRLxsKxb2eucgaZ7xvwJfE6Qwd3wizGGiM1zSTKwx0C9ApjRMDOMdAe3WT3pFKvA&amp;__tn__=*NK-R" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">#iLikeMike</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/25daystogo?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZV4gGYMdpOAvS4zv3hU7X3uQXenc4L29EL6H60weztPu0S9Y1RYV3gP7lFOjzh1pUf83YdofCjXwjcEheSMBYRzk9ddRs0oIHGd-Cfoq63qI9U4A5pH3Oh_5frDtrUwlBz-fTFT2qq5nVSJ0ielrThZKRLxsKxb2eucgaZ7xvwJfE6Qwd3wizGGiM1zSTKwx0C9ApjRMDOMdAe3WT3pFKvA&amp;__tn__=*NK-R" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">#25daystogo</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/smartgovernmentforchico?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZV4gGYMdpOAvS4zv3hU7X3uQXenc4L29EL6H60weztPu0S9Y1RYV3gP7lFOjzh1pUf83YdofCjXwjcEheSMBYRzk9ddRs0oIHGd-Cfoq63qI9U4A5pH3Oh_5frDtrUwlBz-fTFT2qq5nVSJ0ielrThZKRLxsKxb2eucgaZ7xvwJfE6Qwd3wizGGiM1zSTKwx0C9ApjRMDOMdAe3WT3pFKvA&amp;__tn__=*NK-R" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">#SmartGovernmentForChico</a>

It's an evening of visibility for all progressive candidates in Chico! Supporters can meet at The Hands near City Hall in downtown Chico at 4 PM, then we'll spread out to street corners downtown and other major intersection for rush hour til 6 PM with signs supporting our candidates. Please bring a sign, and make signs encouraging voting. Don't have a sign? Come anyway! There will be plenty to go around.This will be fun and just might result in reminding folks to mail in their ballots.When we fight, by actions like this, WE WIN!

Evening of candidate visibility action

Supporters for all progressive candidates are invited to come out with signs and good energy!

Stand Down for Butte County is a yearly three-day event with representatives of dozens of local service providers for homeless veterans to give out information and supplies. The event will have over 50 service providers, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.<a href="https://buttecountystanddown.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://buttecountystanddown.org/</a>

Stand Down for Butte County

This is a yearly event for veterans who are homeless or need support, where over 50 service providers, including government agencies and non-profit organizations that provide services to our veterans, will have booths, tables, and representatives with information and direct assistance.&nbsp;This event will last three days, from Oct 24th to Oct. 26th.

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Campaign Videos

<h3>Chico is My Home</h3>I'm here to earn your vote. Vote Mike Johnson for City Council.

<h3>Taxes and spending policy</h3>Almost 40% of the City Budget goes to police... O'Brien want to expand that. District 1 needs a Fire Station. Vote for Smart Government! Vote Mike Johnson!

<h3>Revitalize downtown through smart investment</h3>The City of Chico budget already devotes almost 40% (36 Million dollars) to police in an effort to reduce homelessness... it obviously isn't working... O'Brien promises more of the same. We want smart government!

<h3>Get rid of Red Tape!</h3>District One is more than just one thing, and our zoning should reflect that.

<h3>Donations from Florida</h3>Michael O'Brien is beholden to wealthy out-of-state investors. His donors don't care about Chico, they just see us as a way to make a buck.

<h3>Housing Market</h3>Chico needs medium and high density homes for renters and first time home buyers. We don't need more large, single-lot homes for wealthy out-of-towners and real estate developers like those who donated to O'Brien's campaign coffers.

<h3>Pot Holes and Infrastructure</h3>We need to reinvest into Chico for the current residents, not for wealthy out-of-town interests like those who donate to O'Brien's campaign coffers.

<h3>Pre-burns and General Fire Safety</h3>Public safety is job #1

<h3>Smart Government</h3>Managed shelter sites are the empirically proven path towards addressing homelessness.

<h3>Leadership</h3>Chico deserves real leadership!

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Testimonials Here

John Crosby, Retired Military Officer and Professor

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I know I can’t do this alone—so if you’ve made it this far, I’ll hope you can go a little farther. It’s safe to say that any campaign for public office needs as much grassroots support as it can muster—so if you’re willing to put in some time &amp; effort on the ground for me, I’ll work just as hard as you will. Please provide whatever contact information you’re willing to share with me and my team, and we’ll respond back to you just as soon as we possibly can. Thank you for your support, and for reaching out to me here. I know we can do this—let’s get to work.

Get involved.

Dozens of local organizations and leaders are standing together!

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I’m determined to be as open and transparent as I can be in this process. And so, by whatever route brought you here today, I’m glad you’re here—and I’m happy to get you more information about me, my campaign, and what it is I’m hoping to do here for Chico and District 1. Please provide whatever contact information you’re willing to share with me and my team, and we’ll respond back to you just as soon as we possibly can. Thank you for your support, and for reaching out to me here. I know we can do this—let’s get to work.

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<h2>It's easy to register to vote!</h2>You can register to vote and check your current registration status at <a href="https://vote411.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vote411.org</a>, a website from the League of Women Voters Education Fund, a non-partisan voter education site.

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My name is Mike Johnson. Chico is home for me and my family.For nearly 30 years, I’ve served Chico, NorCal, and the nation. I’m a small business owner, a commissioned military officer, a former school board member, and a former PTA president.Public safety is my TOP priority. We have no fire station in our district. Homelessness is just as bad as ever.The current City Council majority has lost their way. They only govern for a few of us, not for all of us. Since the Camp Fire and the Pandemic, their priorities have just been all wrong—spending foolishly and wasting time on nonsense that makes us NO safer at home, work, or in our businesses and public spaces.They blew it.The Council has FAILED.I want to do something about that. Join me.

Latest Campaign News

KRCR (ABC News 7) recently interviewed me about my campaign and asked so many great questions! They asked about my experience, what differentiates me from my opponent, what I see as the most pressing issue (public safety), what I would hope to accomplish in the first 30 days, 90 days, and first year, and many others. Read and share with your friends!

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KRCR asks the questions!

NSPR interviewed me in a wide-ranging discussion. The part with me starts at approximately the 2:45 mark. I describe how his military service gave me a service mindset and led me to become part of the Red Bluff school board. When I moved back to Chico in 2008, I became more engaged with Chico's progress and policies. I believe the number one problem is the preponderance of conservatives on the city council who do not know how to govern. The city needs more balance!

NSPR interviews me!

Attack mailers raise questions about honest campaigning. "In a race for two Chico city council seats, a controversy has erupted over recent negative campaign mailers addressing the issue of homelessness...The campaign mailers were printed and sent out by A Better Chico, which is registered with the city as a political action committee...The problem with this mailer is not just that it is mean-spirited. It’s false."

All's fair in Chico election politics?

Read all about it in my Letter to the Editor today in the Chico Enterprise-Record! I explain why I decided to get into this race - because Chico has been on the wrong path for years with a conservative super-majority on the city council - and why my opponent represents more of the same failed policies. I'm asking for your vote for change on the Chico city council!<a href="https://www.chicoer.com/2024/10/21/letter-candidate-voices-concern-over-opponents-fundraising/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.chicoer.com/2024/10/21/letter-candidate-voices-concern-over-opponents-fundraising/</a>

My Letter to the Editor on why I'm running

O'Brien's priorities are clearly in line with his wealthy, out-of-town investors and developers. Just another smooth-talking bureaucrat—another politician, more of the same. You deserve a candidate who is working to represent YOU—to represent the rest of us.

Finance documents released for candidates

The City of Chico will be clearing out homeless camps at the Chico City Plaza on Monday.72-hour notices were handed out last Tuesday to the homeless illegally camping in the plaza and two other areas.

Crews to clear homeless camps at Chico city plaza

Editor Mike Wolcott isn't seeing as many signs around town as he saw two years ago.

Chico ER Editorial: Sign, sign, everywhere a sign?

Healthy Rural California has launched a residency program to bring in more doctors,

Health campus moving ahead in Chico

Letter to the editor from local radio show host and peace activist Chris Nelson urging residents to vote for McDaniel, Goldstein, Hawley, &amp; Johnson.

Letter to the Editor: Chris Nelson

Letter to the Chico ER editor from Karl Ory urging residents to vote for Johnson, McDaniel, Hawley, and Goldstein for city council.

Letter to the Editor from Karl Ory: The best candidates to fight for Chico

Letter to the Chico ER from Eric Nilsson

Letter to the Editor-Chico ER: Vote Johnson, McDaniel, Hawley, and Goldstein

Reporter Beatrice Williams interviewed Mike for this terrific article in The Orion. "If elected, the main issue Johnson aims to address is homelessness. As stated on his campaign site, he aims to do so by providing unhoused people with more access to social services, improved sanitation, as well as resources to lower substance use and crime.“There’s a good reason for the community to deal with homelessness,” Johnson said. “We’ve not really done anything about it.” "

Reporter Beatrice Williams with The Orion interviewed Mike Johnson about his run for city council.

The Orion Interviews Mike Johnson

<a href="https://www.chicoer.com/2024/10/06/mike-obrien-dale-bennett-katie-hawley-and-deepika-tandon-for-chico-city-council-editorial/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Chico ER interviewed both of us</a>, and they chose to endorse Michael O'Brien. I disagree strongly with their endorsement but wanted to share their views.

The Chico ER interviewed both of us, and they chose to endorse the primarily GOP candidate, as expected. I disagree strongly with their endorsement but wanted to share their views.

Chico Enterprise-Record endorsement article

Melissa Daugherty with the Chico News and Review interviewed both candidates for District 1.

Chico News & Review interview

<a href="https://www.chicoer.com/2024/10/02/mike-johnson-thinks-a-smarter-way-can-be-found-for-homelessness-chico-city-council-district-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reporter Michael Weber interviewed Mike Johnson for this article.</a>

The Chico ER's Mike Weber interviewed Mike Johnson for this article published October 2nd.

Chico ER interview with Mike Johnson

The League of Women Voters of Butte County held a terrific forum for Chico city council and school board candidates.

Chicoans flock to League of Women Voters of Butte County forum

<a href="https://chicosol.org/2024/10/01/race-two-mikes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ChicoSol interviewed Mike on Sept. 17th</a>, but they were unable to get Michael O'Brien to respond to requests for an interview. "ChicoSol interviewed and photographed Johnson on Sept. 17. O’Brien did not respond to requests for an interview that were delivered in texts, emails and phone calls. The two Mikes have both focused on homelessness, public safety and infrastructure improvements in their campaigns. But ChicoSol found their approaches quite different."

ChicoSol's interview with Mike: "ChicoSol interviewed and photographed Johnson on Sept. 17. O’Brien did not respond to requests for an interview that were delivered in texts, emails and phone calls. The two Mikes have both focused on homelessness, public safety and infrastructure improvements in their campaigns. But ChicoSol found their approaches quite different."

Chico Sol: The Race Between Two Mikes

Evan Wolcott reviews the candidate forum hosted by the Chico Chamber of Commerce.

Substance over sizzle at first election forum

Letter to the editor from community member Nancy Park urging residents to vote for Johnson, McDaniel, Hawley, and Goldstein for city council.

Letter to the Editor: Elect councilors who are responsive to concerns

Mike explains in a 90-second video spot why he's running, to bring accountability and transparency to the city council

Mike Johnson explains why he's running.

Mike Johnson on Action News Now

Contentiousness precedes approval of response to homeless policy criticism.

Chico City Council pointedly answers grand jury

City Council aspirants got a collective introduction to the community Tuesday morning at a forum sponsored by the Chico Chamber of Commerce.

Council candidates address Chico's issues

Candidates are set for local offices up for election in November.

Local candidates finalized for November election

All four districts up for election this year - Districts 1, 3, 5, &amp; 7 - have contested races.

Chico City Council campaigns take shape

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Local organizations and leaders are standing together!

Mike Johnson for Chico City Council

Former Congressonal Candidate

Audrey Denney

City Council Member

Addison Winslow

Former City Council Member, Attorney

Andy Holcombe

Retired Military Officer, Retired Professor

John Crosby

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<h2>Late Registration and Voting</h2><ul><li>If you’ve already voted, great!</li><li>If you registered before October 21st but haven’t received your ballot yet, call Butte County Elections at (530) 552-3400 for immediate assistance.</li><li>If you have your ballot but haven’t mailed it in yet, don’t procrastinate—November 5th is the very last day to get it postmarked (or) to be dropped off in Chico or Oroville at a ballot box or polling place—even on Election Day.</li></ul>On-time voter registration ended on October 21—but don't worry, California has you covered! For assistance, call Butte County Elections at (530) 552-3400 (or click the green button below):<ul><li>how to register late/in person, all the way up to Election Day</li><li>places you can drop off your ballot</li></ul>You can do this!

It’s time for change in Chico. Join me.

It’s time for change in Chico. It’s time for new leaders.