{{Short description|American politician}} {{use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Vard Johnson | office = Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 8th district | term_start = January 3, 1979 | term_end = January 3, 1989 | predecessor = Edwin Dvorak | successor = Sharon Beck | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|3|11}} | birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri | education = Yale University (B.A.)<br>Harvard Law School (LL.B.) | party = Republican (until 1983)<br>Democratic (1983–present) | spouse = {{marriage|Loretta Turner|1963}} | children = 2 (Samuel, Schuyler) | occupation = Attorney }}
'''Vard Johnson''' (born March 11, 1939) is a Democratic politician and attorney from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 8th district from 1979 to 1989.
==Early life== Johnson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and graduated from Kramer High School in 1956.<ref name="blue book">{{cite book|title=Nebraska Blue Book 1986-87|editor-last1=Smith|editor-first1=Gail Lynn|publisher=Clerk of the Nebraska Legislature|date=1987|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/l3000/D001-198687.pdf|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> He later attended Yale University, and graduated with his bachelor's degree in 1960, and Harvard Law School, receiving his bachelor of laws in 1964.<ref name="blue book"/> Upon graduation, he worked for the Omaha-based firm of Young, Holm, McEachen & Hamann, and then moved to Arizona to work for a legal aid society.<ref name="legal aid">{{cite news|title=Former Omahan May Take Legal Aid Society's Post|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=July 22, 1969|location=|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195091963/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> He returned to Omaha in 1969 to become the director of the metropolitan area's Legal Aid Society.<ref name="legal aid"/> In 1977, Johnson took a leave of absence to teach at the Creighton University School of Law,<ref>{{cite news|title=Legal Aid Chief Taking a Leave|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=January 15, 1977|location=|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195092225/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> and returned to the Legal Aid Society later that year.<ref name="seat sought">{{cite news|title=Seat Sought By Johnson|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=February 23, 1978|location=|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195091927/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref>
==Nebraska Legislature== In 1978, Johnson announced that he would run for the Nebraska Legislature from the 8th district, challenging appointed State Senator Edwin Dvorak.<ref name="seat sought"/> In the nonpartisan primary, Dvorak narrowly placed first, winning 30 percent of the vote to Johnson's 27 percent and state labor department employee Francis Woznicki's 21 percent.<ref name="1978 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 9, 1978, General Election, November 7, 1978|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1978|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1978prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Joyce|first=James|title=Elections could alter personality of Unicam|newspaper=Lincoln Star|date=May 3, 1978|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/195092626/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> Johnson defeated Dvorak in the general election, winning 56–44 percent.<ref name="1978 results"/>
Johnson ran for re-election in 1982, and was challenged by coin dealer Wayne Hohndorf and attorney Rosemarie Lee.<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Susan Darst|title=Challengers in 8th District See Votes on Political Right of Incumbent|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=April 29, 1982|location=|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195092894/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> In the primary election, Johnson placed first by a wide margin, winning 59 percent of the vote to Hohndorf's 26 percent and Lee's 15 percent.<ref name="1982 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 11, 1982, General Election, November 2, 1982|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1982|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1982prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> Johnson and Hohndorf advanced to the general election,<ref>{{cite news|last=Whitesides|first=John|title=Battle Heating Early for Fall Legislative Vote|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=May 12, 1982|location=|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/191935988/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> where Johnson defeated him in a landslide, winning 63 percent of the vote to Hohndorf's 37 percent.<ref name="1982 results"/>
During Johnson's re-election campaign, he announced that he was leaving the Legal Aid Society and starting a private law firm with Robert Broom, Johnson's successor as director.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two Will Cut Legal Aid Tie|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=April 5, 1982|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195092797/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref>
In 1983, Johnson announced that he would switch to the Democratic Party, stating that his "more moderate views [were] out of step with those of Nebraska Republican leadership."<ref>{{cite news|title=Vard Johnson Switches to Democratic Party|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=April 19, 1983|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195086836/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref>
Johnson ran for re-election in 1986, and was challenged by teacher and conservative activist Sharon Beck, attorney Horace Reynolds IV and railroad administrator George Davis.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schreiner|first=Bruce|title=14 state lawmakers face contested races|newspaper=Lincoln Journal|date=April 27, 1986|location=|page=1B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/193127637/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> In the primary election, Johnson placed first, winning 40 percent of the vote to Beck's 39 percent.<ref name="1986 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 13, 1986, General Election, November 4, 1986|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1986|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1986prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> They advanced to the general election,<ref>{{cite news|title=V. Johnson Says Foe's Challenge Is Over|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=May 14, 1986|location=|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/193127739/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> Johnson narrowly won, winning 52 percent of the vote to her 48 percent.<ref name="1986 results"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=John|title=Vard Johnson Survives Challenge|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 5, 1986|location=|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/193127906/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref>
In 1988, Johnson announced that he would resign from the legislature two years into his term.<ref name="resigns seat">{{cite news|last=Cordes|first=Henry J.|title=Vard Johnson Resigns Seat In Legislature|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 17, 1988|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/193127251/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> Though he was speculated to be considering a run for Mayor of Omaha in 1989,<ref name="resigns seat"/> he ultimately declined to do so, announcing that he would return to the "highest calling in American life, that of a private citizen."<ref>{{cite news|last=Rosse|first=Sharon|title=Johnson: I Won't Run For Mayor|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=December 19, 1988|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195093746/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> He officially resigned from the legislature on January 3, 1989,<ref>{{cite book|title=Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska|editor-last1=O'Donnell|editor-first1=Patrick|year=1989|page=6–7|volume=1|url=https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/91/PDF/Journal/r1journal-book.pdf|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> and Beck was appointed by Governor Kay A. Orr to succeed him.<ref>{{cite news|title=Orr appoints Byars, Beck to legislative seats|newspaper=Lincoln Star|date=December 10, 1988|location=|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/193127302/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Vard}} Category:1939 births Category:Living people Category:Nebraska state senators Category:People from Kansas City, Missouri Category:Yale University alumni Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Nebraska Republicans Category:Nebraska Democrats Category:Nebraska lawyers Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:Creighton University faculty Category:20th-century members of the Nebraska Legislature