Johnson: Strength is ability to work with all

Norm Johnson has support from some of the biggest names in the local Republican establishment.

Former state Sen. Alex Deccio has donated to his campaign, as have Yakima Mayor Dave Edler and state Sen. Curtis King.

State Rep. Charles Ross, who holds the other 14th District House seat, spoke glowingly of Johnson at his campaign kickoff, saying he looked forward to working together with him.

Those endorsements stem from relationships built during decades as an elected official in Mabton, Toppenish and Yakima, said Johnson, now a 69-year-old Yakima city councilman.

“My background has proven that I’m able to work with people,” he said.

Given the Democratic majority in the House, Johnson realizes he’ll have to work across the aisle to accomplish things for his home district. But he thinks he can do that without sacrificing Republican principles.

“I’ve seen our (legislators) in Olympia bring back a great deal to Yakima, and they’ve all been Republicans,” he said.

Generally seen as a moderate in the Deccio mold and endorsed by the Forward Yakima Initiative and the Mainstream Republicans of Washington, Johnson said he isn’t interested in an argument about his conservative bona fides. He supports free-market health-care systems and loosening state regulations on business. And he’s pledged to work with Ross on continuing anti-gang efforts in the legislature.

“How do you measure conservatism?” he asked rhetorically. “I’ve always perceived myself to be a relatively conservative individual.”

He similarly is not interested in questions about his age, raised in public statements and campaign literature by opponent Scott Hess, who is 35.

“I thought Ronald Reagan gave the best response to that: ‘You don’t talk about my age, and I won’t talk about your inexperience,’” Johnson said.

Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree at Central Washington University and a master’s degree at Fort Wright College of Holy Names. He is divorced and has five grown sons.