While in town, he visited with as many people from various businesses across town as quickly as he could. Campaign time is running out, so Johnson says he is attempting to hit every county seat's downtown area at least once, and usually it's in a hurry.
Johnson entered the race because he says that many sat quietly in the back seat as the country was steered in the wrong direction, and now he is making his voice heard above the silence of others and attempting to turn things around.
"I felt our country had taken a dangerous turn in the wrong direction, and I didn't see anybody out there that was talking or doing anything about the problems I saw," Johnson said. "That didn't change when Mr. Carson entered the race, because he was supporting the things I thought were wrong with the direction of our country."
Johnson said he firmly believes a few things out of alignment in the nation include the war with Iraq, Bush's tax cuts and Medicare reform.
"In the war in Iraq, for the first time in the entire history of our nation, our country invaded another country and toppled its government, when that country had done nothing to us," Johnson said adamantly.
According to Johnson, this invasion is completely out of character for the United States and will have long-term consequences.
"That's the kind of thing Iraq does to Kuwait," Johnson said.
The country's altered image and reputation is one consequence that Johnson said would have lasting effects on the nation.
"They see us in a different light than they did two years ago," Johnson said with concern.
Johnson is also disturbed with tax cuts for the wealthy and big business.
"The recent tax cuts have resulted in record federal budget deficits, cuts in spending for education and healthcare and expected future cuts in social security," Johnson said.
Medicare reform evokes negative sentiments in Johnson with its proposal of $12 billion in government subsidies to insurance companies, Medicare privatization and high price guarantees to drug companies.
Johnson grew up in a working-class family in Muldrow, and after graduating from high school in 1970 he earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1976 and a law degree in 1979. He practiced oil and gas law in Oklahoma City for five years before leaving Oklahoma to attend Emory University Law School in Atlanta, where he obtained a Master of Law degree in 1987. He taught law at O.U.'s School of Law as an adjunct professor for three years, and in 1996, Johnson earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School in Durham, N.C.
He is currently an associate minister, youth minister and Sunday school teacher at Trinity United Methodist Church in Muldrow, and he is also the instructor of Muldrow High School's mock trial team.
For more information, visit his Web site at www.johnson2004.com.






