Van R. Johnson
Van R. Johnson (born 1968) is an American politician who currently serves as the 67th Mayor of Savannah, Georgia. He is the fourth African-American mayor in the city's history. Having previously served four terms as alderman for Savannah's First District, Johnson unseated Eddie DeLoach in the 2019 Savannah mayoral election and was sworn in as mayor of Savannah on January 1, 2020.[1]
Van R. Johnson, II | |
|---|---|
| 67th Mayor of Savannah, Georgia | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Eddie DeLoach |
| Savannah City Alderman | |
| In office January 2004 – January 1, 2020 | |
| Succeeded by | Bernetta Lanier |
| Constituency | 1st District |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Savannah State University (BS) Georgia Southern University (MPA) |
Early life and education
Born in Brooklyn, Johnson graduated from high school at age 16 and enrolled in Savannah State University, the oldest public historically Black college and university in the state of Georgia.[2] He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1990 and a master's degree in public administration from Georgia Southern University.[3][4]
Career
After college, Johnson worked as an assistant director of human resources for Savannah's Chatham County and later as a police officer.[2] From 2004 to 2020, he served as alderman for the Savannah City Council’s 1st District, additionally serving as Mayor Pro Tem and vice chair during his tenure.[5] Johnson unseated incumbent Eddie DeLoach in the 2019 Savannah mayoral election and was sworn in as mayor on January 1, 2020.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Van Johnson wins Savannah's mayoral runoff". WSAV-TV. 2019-12-04. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
- ^ a b "Office of the Mayor". Savannah.gov. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Birzer, Danielle (February 4, 2020). "Van Johnson, SSU alum, takes mayoral seat". The Tiger's Roar. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
- ^ "Savannah City Council District 1 candidates". Savannah Morning News. November 2, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
- ^ "We Stand With Van Johnson". Savannah Tribune. October 30, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2022.