Along with its fresh redesign, The Atlantic did a nice little write up on KJ’s mayoral campaign in his hometown Sacramento, where he narrowly won a June election over fellow democrat and incumbent Mayor Heather Fargo (and five others). A run-off vote to determine the victor will be held on November 4 between Fargo and KJ, who was a poli-sci major at Cal-Berkely “who passed the long hours of [NBA] travel reading books and policy papers while his teammates played cards and video games.”
KJ has nobly devoted his post-NBA career being a “community organizer,” most notably establishing the St. Hope Academy, a nonprofit education organization that has since turned Sacramento High into a charter school. According to the article, his penchant for this work and the beginnings of his political aspirations began during his playing days.
Even as his NBA career progressed, Johnson became fluent in the language of policy entrepreneurs, salting his conversation with terms like ‘holistic community development’ and ‘personalized learning.’ A born networker, he traded on his celebrity to meet business and political luminaries wherever he traveled.
When he retired from the Phoenix Suns, in 2000, both the Republicans and the Democrats asked him to run for governor of Arizona. Johnson demurred, choosing instead to put into practice what he’d learned about the power of business to transform urban areas.
Good luck, KJ. May I suggest that this be the only campaign advertisement you run?
And I’m not familiar with his policies, but if his executive leadership skills are anywhere even nearly as good as his Dream impersonation skills, Sacto will be in good hands.
{ 0 comments… add your thoughts }