Leroy Johnson (senator)
Encyclopedia
Leroy Reginald Johnson (b. 1928), was an American senator who served on the Georgia State Senate from 1963–75 after winning a seat in the 1962 Georgia General Assembly
election. He was the first black state senator to be elected to the legislature in over fifty year, since William Rogers in 1907, and the first to be elected to the Senate since 1874. He served District 38 in Fulton County
and Atlanta, a predominantly black senate district created after the elimination of the county-unit system that same year. Before serving as a senator, Johnson was an attorney where he played a role in Atlanta's 1960s civil rights movement. He was later a candidate in the 1973 Atlanta mayoral election
but received few votes, despite being familiar to voters and having endorsement from The Atlanta Constitution
. The position went instead to Maynard Jackson
who in turn became Atlanta's first African American mayor.
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
election. He was the first black state senator to be elected to the legislature in over fifty year, since William Rogers in 1907, and the first to be elected to the Senate since 1874. He served District 38 in Fulton County
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
and Atlanta, a predominantly black senate district created after the elimination of the county-unit system that same year. Before serving as a senator, Johnson was an attorney where he played a role in Atlanta's 1960s civil rights movement. He was later a candidate in the 1973 Atlanta mayoral election
Atlanta mayoral election, 1973
The 1973 Atlanta mayoral election was held on November 6, 1973 in Atlanta, Georgia. Vice Mayor Maynard Jackson was elected as the city's first African-American mayor, defeating incumbent Mayor Sam Massell....
but received few votes, despite being familiar to voters and having endorsement from The Atlanta Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and its suburbs. The AJC, as it is called, is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the result of the merger between The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta...
. The position went instead to Maynard Jackson
Maynard Jackson
Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. was an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the first African American mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. He served three terms, two consecutive terms from 1974 until 1982 and a third term from 1990 to 1994...
who in turn became Atlanta's first African American mayor.