We talked with Craig Johnson, our representative to the Nassau County Legislature, on the bleachers at Schreiber High, Johnson's alma mater. "I try to get to two or three games a year, Johnson said. "I wanted to play football," he said, "but my mother wouldn't let me." (His mother, Barbara Johnson, was the well-respected county legislator from our district for many years prior to her death in 2000.) The setting was appropriate for a legislator with deep roots in the community. Johnson commented, "I love representing this district. I grew up here. This is where my roots are."

Craig Johnson said he is strongly committed to health issues, particularly regarding cancer, the disease that took his mother after a long, courageous struggle. He spearheaded the passage of Nassau County's anti-smoking law, one of the toughest. Although the federal district court has delayed the implementation of Nassau's law, actions by Nassau and other municipalities was instrumental in the passage of a statewide anti-smoking law, the Clean Indoor Air Act, which was implemented in July 2003. "I am very proud of my efforts to ban smoking," he said. "Regardless of the court's ruling, which by the way I think is erroneous, it is happening," he said. "People don't want to take in second hand smoke," he said. Johnson recently reminded his constituents to have mammograms, and advised them about the county's flu shot program for senior citizens.

A major issue for Johnson has been finding solutions to the County's fiscal crisis. "It has been an extremely productive two years," he said. Among the major accomplishments Johnson noted are: producing three consecutive balanced budgets, working with the county executive to develop and present a five-year plan, reducing the workforce by 15 percent, cutting spending in other areas, designing and implementing new initiatives, actively paying down the debt, decreasing borrowing for operations, and modernizing county government. Johnson said that the legislators are in the process of reviewing the budget for this year. "So far," he said, "it looks good, there is no property tax increase included in the budget. Suozzi kept his promise to increase the property tax only once," he commented.

Johnson is chair of the legislature's economic development committee. He considers economic development to be a critical issue for Nassau County in general, and for his district (the 11th) in particular. "It is important to work together with the county executive to implement his development plan." Johnson said that the cleanup of the brownfields is very important to Nassau County's economy because of the large number of abandoned industrial sites that can be re-developed for new businesses, and he also said that the new state law would be a big help.

Johnson stated that revitalizing the central business districts - the "downtowns" is another aspect of economic development that needs to be addressed. Here in Port Washington, Johnson specifically mentioned his interest in revitalizing Lower Main Street. "We have to find funds to improve the local downtown, main street areas," Johnson said. "We don't really know what kind of businesses to attract," he added. "It is critical for the villages to focus on this, along with the Chambers of Commerce, other groups, and individual members of the community. I believe in maximum community involvement."

In the 11th district, traffic is a serious problem that has a big impact on economic development. "We have to find ways of making our communities more pedestrian friendly," said Johnson.

In addition, Johnson said he and others are looking at ways to improve the public transportation system. "We have to find a solution," he said. One small but important step, Johnson said, is the re-routing of some of Port's N23 buses so that they go through Harbor Road.

Johnson supported the Sewer and Storm Water Authority proposed by County Executive Suozzi, which was enacted by the state legislature, although not in the form originally projected. "The original plan would have saved $25 million; this one saves $6 million, but it is a good start," he commented.

Noting another contribution to our community, Johnson regularly speaks in the schools on the subject of bullying and tells students what they can do, personally, to stop bullying. "I remind them that it is okay to talk to adults, to walk away. This is a big problem; you can't just be silent about it," he said. Johnson concluded by saying, "I love representing this community, and I hope that I can continue to do so."

Craig Johnson, a bankruptcy and commercial attorney, lives in Port Washington with his wife, Liz, and son, Benjamin. Benjamin often accompanies his father to community events.