Commissioner Johns will run for Congress

St Johns County District 1 Commissioner Jimmy Johns announced to local Historic City News reporters today that he has filed to run for Congressional District 6; the seat being vacated by Congressman Ron DeSantis who is making a run for Florida governor.

Johns currently serves as a commissioner and is the immediate past Chairman of the St. Johns County Board of Commissioners. This year’s mid-term Primary Election will be held August 28th and the General Election will be held on November 6, 2018.

“Our country is at a crossroads, some think we should hold on to the failed policies of yesterday. I disagree and will fight to secure our borders, keep the promises made to our seniors, and work to make sure that the promise of America will exist for the next generation,” Johns wrote in his announcement earlier today. “I will work with President Trump to keep taxes low, build the wall and end the needless and burdensome regulations that stifle growth and hurt our economy.”

In 2004, Johns founded Solid Rock Engineering Consultants, Inc., on his kitchen table in St. Johns County. As president, Johns has grown the company and now serves clients throughout the Southeast.

Johns was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to fill the unexpired term of Cyndi Stevenson, when she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2014. He was subsequently elected to a full 4-year term on the St Johns County Commission in 2016.

“When Governor Scott appointed me, I committed to him and the citizens of St. Johns County that I would hold the line on taxes and spending. I have kept that promise even when some of my closest friends asked me to support a massive sales tax increase,” said Johns. “I believe that when you tell someone that you are going to do something, you stick to your word.”

Johns is a Florida native. He and his wife Kathy, who works in Administration at Bartram Trail High School, live in St. Johns County where they raised their three daughters.  He received dual degrees in Applied Physics from Jacksonville University and Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. In the 1990’s, he worked for International Paper Company, where he was ultimately responsible for compliance with the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.

“When Congressman DeSantis announced that he was running for Governor, those same close friends encouraged me to run for Congress — because they knew that I would do what I said not just what was popular,” said Johns.