Karen Johnson (Florida politician)

Karen Johnson
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 11th district
In office
November 3, 1992 – November 5, 1996
Preceded byDick Langley
Succeeded byAnna Cowin
Personal details
Born(1943-11-16)November 16, 1943
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 19, 2025(2025-04-19) (aged 81)
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Inverness, Florida, U.S.

Karen Johnson (November 16, 1943 – April 19, 2025) was a Democratic politician who served as a member of the Florida Senate from 1992 to 1996 and on the Citrus County School Board from 1982 to 1992.

Early life and career

Johnson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved to Florida in 1958.[1] She worked as a substitute teacher and school volunteer, and served on the Inverness Middle School Parent-Teacher Association.[2]

In 1982, Johnson ran for the Citrus County School Board in the 5th District, challenging incumbent Board member Ralph Hoffman in the Democratic primary.[3] She campaigned on her experience as a school volunteer and substitute teacher, and argued that School Board meetings should be moved to evenings to allow students and parents to attend.[2] Johnson narrowly defeated Hoffman in the primary,[4] and was elected unopposed in the general election, becoming the first female member of the Board since 1968.[5]

Johnson ran for re-election in 1986, and was challenged by C. L. Calloway, a district manager for an electric cooperative, and Pastor Larry Powers.[6] Johnson won renomination in a landslide, receiving 61 percent of the vote and avoiding a runoff. No other candidates filed to run against her, and she won the general election unopposed.[7]

In 1990, Johnson won the Democratic nomination unopposed,[8] and faced Republican nominee Lennie Berger, a businessman who operated a child placement firm, in the general election.[9] Johnson defeated Berger in a landslide, winning 63 percent of the vote.[10]

Florida Senate

Johnson announced that she would step down from the School Board and run for the State Senate in 1992.[11] Johnson initially planned on running to succeed Democratic State Senator Karen Thurman, who opted to run for Congress, in the 4th District. However, after redistricting divided Citrus County,[12] Johnson instead ran in the 11th District, challenging Republican State Senator Dick Langley for re-election.[13]

She faced rancher Owen Conner in the Democratic primary,[14] and was endorsed by the St. Petersburg Times, which praised her "straightforward constituent-oriented style of politics" whose "progressive platform makes her the easy choice."[15] Johnson won the nomination in a landslide, receiving 68 percent of the vote to Conner's 32 percent.[16]

In the general election, Johnson faced Langley, and the election was viewed by both parties as vital for their efforts to win a majority in the State Senate.[17] Johnson ultimately defeated Langley by a narrow margin,[18] winning 53 percent of the vote to his 47 percent.[19]

1996 campaign for Citrus County Superintendent

In 1996, Johnson announced that she would run for Citrus County Superintendent of Public Schools rather than seek a second term in the State Senate.[20] She faced Homosassa Elementary School principal Bob Burst and J. Casey Kearse, a retired school administrator, in the Democratic primary.[21] In the primary, Johnson placed first with 42 percent of the vote, and advanced to a runoff election with Brust,[22] who placed second with 31 percent.[23] Brust defeated Johnson in the runoff by a wide margin,[24] winning 64 percent of the vote to her 36 percent.[25]

Death

Johnson died on April 19, 2025.[26]

References

  1. ^ Florida Senate Handbook, 1994–96 (PDF). Secretary of the Florida Senate. 1994. p. 24.
  2. ^ a b White, Joseph B. (June 18, 1982). "Mother of three seeks election to Citrus School Board". St. Petersburg Times: Citrus Times Edition. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ White, Joseph B. (April 13, 1982). "Board incumbent may face opposition in fall primary". St. Petersburg Times: Citrus Times Edition. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Tunstall, Jim (September 9, 1982). "Barnes Credits Grass Roots In Upset Defeat Of Rooks". The Hernando-Citrus Tribune. Tampa, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Laskiewicz, Ann Marie (November 16, 1982). "School Board member to be activist". St. Petersburg Times: Citrus Times Edition. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Behrendt, Barbara (August 23, 1986). "Teacher salaries a top priority for three seeking School Board seat". St. Petersburg Times: Citrus Times Edition. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Behrendt, Barbara; Landry, Sue; Smith, Todd C. (September 4, 1986). "At last, real races can begin". St. Petersburg Times: Citrus Times Edition. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 45662. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Behrendt, Barbara (September 5, 1990). "Field of Citrus school board candidates narrowed to six". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 4B. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Behrendt, Barbara (October 22, 1990). "Philosophies at odds in school races: District 5: Incumbent Karen Johnson hesitates to be negative in her campaign; her opponent, Lennie Berger, does not". St. Petersburg Times: Citrus Times Edition. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Behrendt, Barbara (November 8, 1990). "Voters decide seats, deny tax". St. Petersburg Times: Citrus Times Edition. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 45662. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ White, Victoria (January 12, 1992). "Candidates gear up for big year". St. Petersburg Times: Citrus Times Edition. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Wilkens, George (May 24, 1992). "Redistricting efforts met with criticism". The Tampa Tribune: Hernando. Tampa, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Shields, Gerard (July 18, 1992). "Outspoken school critic running for 4th term". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 45667. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Behrendt, Barbara (August 17, 1992). "Candidates have differing ideas for state budget". St. Petersburg Times: Citrus Times Edition. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "For a better state Senate". St. Petersburg Times. August 20, 1992. p. 10A. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "September 1, 1992 Primary Election - Democratic Primary - Official Results - State Senator - District: 11". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 1992. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  17. ^ "GOP strives to make Senate history". Naples Daily News. October 27, 1992. p. 11A. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Van Gieson, John C. (November 4, 1992). "Democrats try to hang on to control of state Senate". Orlando Sentinel. p. A-12. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "November 3, 1992 General Election - Official Results - State Senator - District: 11". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 1992. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  20. ^ Fallstrom, Jerry (June 8, 1996). "Senator seeks school post". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Behrendt, Barbara (September 1, 1996). "Brust is strong winner in Citrus". Citrus Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Ballingrud, David (September 4, 1996). "Voting ends, but many hopefuls still face runoff". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 5B. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Citrus County Election Results September 3, 1996" (PDF). Citrus County Supervisor of Elections. 1996. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  24. ^ Behrendt, Barbara (October 2, 1996). "Brust is strong winner in Citrus". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1B. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Record of Elections by Precinct Second Primary Election October 1, 1996" (PDF). Citrus County Supervisor of Elections. 1996. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  26. ^ "Senator Karen Johnson Gendron". Chas E. Davis Funeral Home. April 19, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
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