Kevin Johnson to Run for Mayor of the City He Loves

Business Wire, March 6, 2008

Former NBA Star and School Founder Promises to Bring New Energy to City Hall

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- In front of a capacity crowd at Oak Park's historic Guild Theatre, Kevin Johnson today formally declared his candidacy for Mayor of Sacramento.

"Professional sports allowed me to travel all over this great country and all over the world," Johnson said. "But no matter how far I traveled, I never forgot my home. I always knew I would return to Sacramento. Why? Because I am a third-generation Oak Park native, and my grandfather instilled in me a pride in this community. With his values firmly instilled in me, 18 years ago I started St. HOPE to give back to the community that I love."

While playing in the NBA, Johnson founded the St. HOPE Academy and today serves as its CEO. St. HOPE is a nonprofit community development corporation created to revitalize communities through public education, civic leadership, economic development and the arts. In 2003, St. HOPE formed St. HOPE Public Schools, a pre-K through 12 independent charter school system of seven small schools.

In his announcement address, Johnson stated: "Over the years, I've resisted getting involved in politics, but over the last couple of months, I've been thinking a lot about my grandfather. He taught me the importance of being an active citizen. He always said that when you saw something wrong, you couldn't stand on the sidelines. You had an obligation to stand up and do something about it.

"After weeks of soul-searching, I've come to the unequivocal conclusion that I have to do this because we need change in this city, and we need it now. I am here today to announce my candidacy for mayor of Sacramento because I believe I can lead this change, and together we can spark this change throughout the city.

"I believe Sacramento can be one of the most vibrant, growing cities in the country. I believe that we can be a first-rate city in this great nation. But right now, people see our city government as nonresponsive, tired, uninspired and bureaucratic. That's not good enough for Sacramento or its residents. Sacramento has to be a city that works for everyone."

Johnson, 42, was born and raised in Sacramento not far from the Guild Theatre where he announced his candidacy today. Originally built as a movie house in 1915, the Guild Theatre is owned by St. HOPE and is the centerpiece of Johnson's multi-million dollar investment in the "40 Acres Art Gallery and Cultural Center" in Oak Park.