| Job History: |
 | During the 90's Jesse was called home three times, first to be the primary care-giver for his grandmother and great great aunt, both of whom had terminal cancer, then for two one hundred year floods within 18 months, which destroyed his Sissonville home and finally because his mother became ill and fell into a coma.
Glad to be home, Jesse eagerly became involved in the community, acting in a variety of local commercials for causes he believed in and the Charleston productions of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Pavilion. He also became an advisor to the board of the West Virginia International Film Festival and started West Virginia Film Investment, geared towards brining film productions to the state.
At the same time, Jesse was instrumental in creating Talkback, Children Respond to Violence in the Media, through a three year grant funded by U.S. Department of Education, National Endowment of the Arts, V.S.A.and Kanawha County Schools. The program uses the arts to teach inner-city elementary school students how to combat violence. Talkback was entered into the US Congressional Record and was recognized by first lady Laura Bush.
More recently he lobbied the legislature to protect intellectual properties.
Discouraged with the two party system, and an environmentalist at heart, Jesse began attending Mountain Party meetings a little over a year ago. At the May 3rd convention he lead the charge to keep Nader off the ballot and secured the party nomination for governor. He is the first gubernatorial candidate in the history of the state to secure his place on the general election ballot before the primary election.
|
|
| Important Issues: |
| Economic Development
Build a film industry to create jobs, increase tourism, and educate citizens
Already initiated the creation of intellectual properties legislation to protect new economic venues
Create a WV Bug [logo] to identify WV businesses and products
Fair taxation plan in which big business shares the brunt of the burden (instead of citizens)
Flood mitigation / Water storage / Lakes of power / Redirect Valley Fills
Responsible mining and logging practices
Enforce mountaintop removal regulations
Create an exit strategy for mountaintop removal and land redevelopment with clearly defined responsibilities in regard to refuse
Improved regulations for timber rustling and clear-cutting with clearly defined responsibilities
Enforce weight limits on coal trucks
Promote and fund stewardship programs |
|
| Why Vote For Me: |
| Education
Smaller classrooms and limits on busing
Competitive pay for educators
Work to overturn "No Child Left Behind" /create an inclusive plan for WV's kids
Make the arts mandatory and accountable in elementary, middle and senior high schools (this means putting arts under assessment)
High Tech home schooling utilizing Public Broadcasting services
Increase adult literacy
Universal Healthcare Reform
Preserve women's right to choose
Expand the state's lower cost prescription drug plan to include all West Virginians
Utilize alternative healthcare to encourage self responsibility and wellness while lowering healthcare costs |
|
| 
Hello. I'm Jesse Johnson and I'm running for president on the Green Party ticket because I love my home state of West Virginia, our country and this planet.
I was raised by working class parents. I've lived and worked bi-coastally in the largest cities anywhere, honing my crafts as an artist, performer and filmmaker. The rural nature of my personality and those values are alive and well inside.
I returned home to West Virginia to become a primary care giver. I rediscovered my home and the simple needs of those less capable of caring for themselves as well as the bounty living on the mountaintops.
My grandmother is gone now... as are many mountaintops. Our world is filled with exploiters illegally preying upon our most valuable resources. Coalmining companies value short-term gain, limiting profits. Lending institutions don't care who loses their homes or if our children get an education. They care about usurious interest rates. Health Insurance companies care that their bottom line is healthy. This is our shared challenge to overcome.
Every citizen must become a steward of our democratic ideal. We must put ourselves forward to become leaders in the fight to save our nation, environment and each other.
The world's leader is too powerful to be this flawed without it negatively impacting us all. I know where the weapons of mass destruction are; we have them. I know where the ruthless oil companies are; we harbor them. I know where the mercenary armies are; we employ them. And I know where the environmental terrorists are; we purchase half our energy from them.
Instead of rebuilding an obsolete machine let's build a movement. I have begun and will continue campaigning, spreading Green messages and facilitating press's attention to local candidates.
Grassroots organizers understand the need to work together. I therefore ask for your vote. Thank you.
|
| Phone: |
(703) 864-5199 |
| Donate: | |
| Mail: | Committee to Elect Jesse Johnson |
| | PO Box 893 |
| | Charleston, WV 25323
|
I am running as a Green for President.