Vard Johnson

Johnson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and graduated from Kramer High School in 1956.^[1] He later attended Yale University, and graduated with his bachelor's degree in 1960, and Harvard Law School, receiving his bachelor of laws in 1964.^[1] Upon graduation, he worked for the Omaha-based firm of Young, Holm, McEachen & Hamann, and then moved to Arizona to work for a legal aid society.^[2] He returned to Omaha in 1969 to become the director of the metropolitan area's Legal Aid Society.^[2] In 1977, Johnson took a leave of absence to teach at the Creighton University School of Law,^[3] and returned to the Legal Aid Society later that year.^[4]

In 1978, Johnson announced that he would run for the Nebraska Legislature from the 8th district, challenging appointed State Senator Edwin Dvorak.^[4] In the nonpartisan primary, Dvorak narrowly placed first, winning 30 percent of the vote to Johnson's 27 percent and state labor department employee Francis Woznicki's 21 percent.^[5][6] Johnson defeated Dvorak in the general election, winning 56–44 percent.^[5]

Johnson ran for re-election in 1982, and was challenged by coin dealer Wayne Hohndorf and attorney Rosemarie Lee.^[7] In the primary election, Johnson placed first by a wide margin, winning 59 percent of the vote to Hohndorf's 26 percent and Lee's 15 percent.^[8] Johnson and Hohndorf advanced to the general election,^[9] where Johnson defeated him in a landslide, winning 63 percent of the vote to Hohndorf's 37 percent.^[8]

During Johnson's re-election campaign, he announced that he was leaving the Legal Aid Society and starting a private law firm with Robert Broom, Johnson's successor as director.^[10]

In 1983, Johnson announced that he would switch to the Democratic Party, stating that his "more moderate views [were] out of step with those of Nebraska Republican leadership."^[11]

Johnson ran for re-election in 1986, and was challenged by teacher and conservative activist Sharon Beck, attorney Horace Reynolds IV and railroad administrator George Davis.^[12] In the primary election, Johnson placed first, winning 40 percent of the vote to Beck's 39 percent.^[13] They advanced to the general election,^[14] Johnson narrowly won, winning 52 percent of the vote to her 48 percent.^[13][15]

In 1988, Johnson announced that he would resign from the legislature two years into his term.^[16] Though he was speculated to be considering a run for Mayor of Omaha in 1989,^[16] he ultimately declined to do so, announcing that he would return to the "highest calling in American life, that of a private citizen."^[17] He officially resigned from the legislature on January 3, 1989,^[18] and Beck was appointed by Governor Kay A. Orr to succeed him.^[19]