AZ Asian World
August 2005
Face to Face with Vice-Mayor Michael Johnson
“Working together so we can move forward,” is a fundamental philosophy of Vice-Mayor and Councilman Michael Johnson of Phoenix District 8. As a retired Phoenix Police Officer and current Vice-Mayor and Councilman for District 8, Vice-Mayor Johnson is an active participant and supporter of the Asian Community.
Vice-Mayor Johnson said that he truly enjoys culture events like Phoenix Chinese Week and attending CEFC Chinese School Graduation Ceremony, where he was invited as Honorable VIP Guest. He especially appreciates programs such as the Phoenix Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Exchange Program and inviting performers from Chengdu and Taipei to perform in different schools.
Vice-Mayor Johnson said that the community needs to learn from the Asian Community about education, family pride, and kid’s responsibility to the elderly because by learning about and understanding the Asian community’s reasoning and their views of education and family values, this can help decrease crime, increase education and better the lives of seniors. Vice-Mayor Johnson admires and is impressed by the way Asian communities strive to excel in education, work and their enormous respect and responsibility for the elderly. “The Asian community is a community that is prosperous because it assists one another,” Vice-Mayor Johnson said.
However, the Asian community is more conservative; therefore, Vice-Mayor Johnson recommends that the Asian community need to have more involvement in the community at large to help Asians be represented. The cultural barriers make the community a close nit community. For this reason, it is important for Asian communities to have more open communication and to communicate with their city government and express their opinions and issues.
Vice-Mayor Johnson said that he extends his hand to strengthen the communication with the Asian community and the city government by having more dialogue because the city government is there to assist and work with each community. Vice-Mayor Johnson said that he is there to provide a voice for those who do not have a voice.
“The greatest part of being a councilman is being able to assist and help people, develop relationship and friendship in the community,” Vice-Mayor Johnson said. “My advice to the younger generations who has interest in politics is to go beyond their own community and to create partnership with other communities to broaden his or her base and support.”
Vice-Mayor Johnson added the most important qualities a leader must possess are pride and integrity. Vice-Mayor Johnson said that pride and integrity can help a person make a choice and deal with people.
Accomplishments under Councilman Johnson’s leadership:
