by Mary Elizabeth Lonergan
Sen. Kevin Johnson and Rep. Kimberly Johnson give new meaning to the term family business.
The business of public service runs in the DNA of the father-daughter duo who serve in each chamber of the South Carolina Legislature.
Sen. Kevin Johnson first served in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2011 and joined the state Senate in 2013. Prior to his time in state legislature, he was the mayor of Manning, S.C. Throughout most of his time in public service, he has also been a father, and he says his career may have been one of the catalysts for his daughter’s run for office.
“I’m not sure if I inspired her or not, but I am not surprised that she became a public servant because she has always been interested in helping others,” Kevin said. “When others in our community had a need or needed any kind of help, Kim was one of the first people that they would reach out to.”
Rep. Kim Johnson gives her father the credit for inspiring her interest in the state legislature.
“I would always go along with him to meetings and found myself really enjoying them.”
A Personal and Professional Relationship
As the father-daughter duo come and go from the Capitol in Columbia, they enjoy discussing legislation and life.
“It is a great experience that began long before Kim became a public official,” Kevin said. “Although we agree on the majority of the issues that we face, it is good to know that when we disagree, it is an honest disagreement on a particular issue that we may be confronted with. When we have a difference of opinion on an issue, it causes me to rethink my position because I trust her judgement and her thinking skills.”
His daughter agrees.
“It’s surreal. He continues to be a mentor in yet another phase of my life. We don’t see each other as much as I thought we would during the day in Columbia, but we bump into each other on occasion.
“My dad is truly one of my best friends. We talk several times a day, each day. I built my home 12 years ago and he has cut my yard every week — free of charge — since the grass started growing.”
The pair beam with pride whenever they are speaking about each other.
“I am proud of the stances he takes that, while they are right, they may not be popular,” Kim said. “I’ve had two local sheriffs tell me how supportive he is and how easy he has been to work with on bills. Outside of the legislature, I am most proud when I see him work just as hard for the constituents that didn’t support him or those that don’t reside in his district as he does for his hardest working supporters.”
Her father feels the same.
“There have been a couple of notable issues where I was proud of her as a legislator when she did not merely ‘go along to get along’. She stands on her conviction even when the position that she took was the right decision but not the easy or popular decision. These actions caused her to gain the respect and admiration of the House leadership and her colleagues.
“I had many proud moments when so many people that she works with come to me with kind words about the work that she does on behalf of South Carolina. Outside the legislature, I am proud of her many accomplishments. From high school to her service as an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army, and as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and to her receiving her undergraduate and graduate degrees. All of that make me proud.”
Kim calls her father her best friend, and Kevin says knowing his daughter and being a father impacts many of his decisions in the legislature.
“Fatherhood entails being a leader of your household and entails setting an example for your children. It entails working hard to provide for your family or children and making sure that their needs and some of their desires are met. Fatherhood entails preparing your children to be responsible and to eventually be able to provide for themselves and to always do what is right,” Kevin said. “Good fathers epitomize leadership. There are many important traits and characteristics that are necessary to be a good father. I utilize some of those same traits in my role as a state senator.”