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Kari Johnson

Kari was born September 1960 in the old Anoka Hospital, Anoka MN. Her youth was spent playing and getting into mischief with her siblings and cousins on her grandparents' tree farm. Kari enjoyed many activities including volunteering at the local hospital and nursing homes, and becoming an award-winning Girl Scout. She fondly remembers fishing with her dad and camping cross-country with her family. She enjoyed her years of growing up in the Halloween Capital of the World with all the festivities and fun that surrounded it. Kari graduated from Anoka High School where she was active in Choir, Drama, Band, and Speech. She left for California shortly thereafter to pursue a career in acting; and after being successful with a local production company touring around the U.S., she returned to Minnesota. Kari married her high school sweetheart in 1981 and had twin daughters in 1987. Although divorced from her first husband, they remain friends; and in 2004 she remarried.

A deep sense of public service and a commitment to her country were instilled early in Kari's life. Her parents and grandparents all spent many hours volunteering at church, hospitals, and historical societies. Her father was on the planning commission for the City of Anoka and her mother encouraged community involvement for all her children. Her maternal grandfather was a World War I veteran and a Mason. Her paternal grandfather was the Sheriff of Anoka County and a volunteer fireman. This civic nurturing provided the backbone of Kari's dream to run for political office. She says, "Since I was a little girl, I felt the calling of public service was my destiny. I believe we all have a civic responsibility to be involved in our government. Our involvement is the price we pay to enjoy the freedoms those before us fought for."

Kari has been in the housing industry for the past 25 years as a business owner, property and regional manager, marketing director, maintenance person, leasing agent and caretaker. She has taught courses, seminars, and workshops to landlords on the subject of turning problem properties into efficient, community-friendly housing. She helped develop the curriculum that is now used throughout the industry. In 1995 she was the property manager of the first crime-free multi-housing complex in Minneapolis.

Kari was on the Board of Directors for the Housing Lifeskills Centre in Minneapolis. She didn't merely sit on the board; she also taught residents the Lifeskills course on a regular basis. Kari has also worked to curb homelessness in Minnesota. She was the landlord-speaker at the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Annual Convention in 2002. She also visits shelters around the Twin Cities to talk with people about getting into affordable housing; giving them referrals to the Housing Lifeskills Centre and helping them find employment to enjoy a better life.

Kari knows we need to embrace the ideas and values of our forefathers about public service, and what it really means. She says, "We need a fiscally responsible and socially responsive government that understands the balance between personal accountability and a helping hand. Current political discord has created an environment of mistrust for our elected officials. I hope to restore the voters' involvement and confidence in government. I truly believe that a third party is what we need to get our government back on track."