Johnson accepts job at Youngstown State University

MARIETTA -- Rep. Bill Johnson of Marietta announced Tuesday he won't run again for Congress and has accepted the president's job at Youngstown State University.

The university offered Johnson the job of president on Thursday to succeed interim president Helen K. Lafferty. Lafferty was appointed after Jim Tressel stepped down earlier this year.

In the meantime, protests were held at the college on Monday over the board of trustees offering Johnson the job. See Story on Page 5A.

"After much thought and prayerful deliberation, I have accepted the offer to lead Youngstown State University and will not be seeking an 8th term in Congress," Johnson said in a statement released on Tuesday afternoon. "As I've stated previously, I wasn't looking for another job, because I love the one I have serving the people of Eastern Ohio in the U.S. House. This was an extremely difficult decision."

Johnson retired from the U.S. Air Force, joining the services in 1973 and retiring 26 years later as a lieutenant colonel. He graduated from Troy (Ala.) University in 1979 and earned a master's from Georgia Tech in 1984.

After retirement, Johnson was a founder of Johnson-Schley Management Group, an information technology consulting company, which he later left.

"This is not a goodbye, however. I will continue serving in the House for several more months, and you will see no let up," Johnson said. "My offices are open and my staff remains ready to serve you.

"There is still much left on my agenda to do before I depart Congress, including doing all I can to help pass tax exemption legislation to benefit the people of East Palestine as well as a broader rail safety bill, streamline America's LNG export process, and advance a responsible budget and spending package for the remainder of this fiscal year," he said. "It's business as usual."