September 7, 1999
SENATOR JOHNSON PASSES AWAY
DFL State Senator Janet Johnson, Chair of the Senate Transportation Budget Division, passed away August 21. Johnson, 59, was diagnosed in early July with a malignant brain tumor and had been undergoing chemotherapy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Johnson, who was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1990, was known as a strong advocate for the environment and mass transit.
A special election will be held on November 2, 1999 to fill Johnsons vacant seat. The vacancy again may whittle down what was once a seemingly insurmountable DFL majority. At the beginning of 1999, DFLers enjoyed a 42 to 24 majority. Today, that majority stands at 39 to 26. With the exception of one legislative race, Republicans have won every legislative special election held in the 1990s.

Senator Janet Johnson of North Branch Dies
On the heels of the recent deaths of Duluth legislator and Minnesota legend Willard Munger, and Grand Marais renewable energy activist and developer Bill Haveland, clean energy advocates received a third sad blow of the summer on August 21.

Minnesota State Senator Janet Johnson passed away August 21 from complications of a brain tumor that was just diagnosed in July. Senator Johnson, 59, was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1990.

She is survived by her husband Dennis, her three children and three grand-children.

Here's a partial list of bills Johnson authored that became state laws supporting efficiency and clean energy: improvements to energy standards for building components; prohibitions of certain nonrenewable energy electric power generating systems; requiring the quantification of environmental externalities; sales and property tax exemptions for photovoltaic and wind energy systems; state preference for renewable energy in resource planning; requirements for wind power plant siting; and financial incentives for dispersed wind generating systems. Johnson was a key player in numerous other clean energy debates, including the landmark 1994 Prairie Island laws, and the 1999 negotiated settlement that led to the Renewable Development Fund.

Grow: A mother's last wish
Doug Grow Star Tribune
Wednesday, April 19, 2000

This was going to be one of those sweet stories. On her deathbed, a mother urges her daughter to carry out one task. The daughter, of course, attempts to carry out that last wish.
In this case, the mother was state Sen. Janet Johnson, a DFLer from North Branch. Hours before slipping into a coma caused by a brain tumor, she urged her daughter, Jessica Roe, an attorney, "to make sure that pesticide bill is passed." Roe vowed she'd carry out her mother's wish. Johnson died Aug. 21. She was 59.
The status of that last wish that I wrote about in late November? It's muddled up in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
"Sometimes I wish she would have given me something easier to do," Roe said. "It would have been nice if she'd have said, 'Keep your dishes clean.' "
The pesticide bill, originally written by Johnson, seems so noncontroversial. It would require schools to notify parents about applications of highly toxic pesticides. Several states have passed similar legislation because more studies are raising concerns about impacts that some of the more toxic pesticides might  have on children.
For a second successive year, the measure, known as the Janet Johnson bill, has sailed through the Minnesota Senate with bipartisan support. But, for the second successive year, the Republican majority in the House is standing against it. Republicans are offering a bill calling for further study of whether parents should be notified of the pesticides used in schools.
The dispute surrounding this simple notification bill has included the staples of Minnesota government these days: double-dealing, personality disputes and ineptitude.
For example, in a recent meeting with Gov. Jesse Ventura, Roe said he told her he supported her bill. But . . .
"As I was being walked to the door [by one of the governor's staff members], I was told that I might not really have the governor's support," Roe said. "This was seconds after the governor himself told me I did have his support."
She has talked with Rep. Kathy Tingelstad, R-Andover, who is the sponsor of the further-study bill. Roe said that in one of those meetings, Tingelstad told her that if any legislator but Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis, was sponsoring the pesticide bill, Republicans might embrace it.
Tingelstad doesn't deny making the comment about Wagenius.
"I don't want to say anything bad about her," she said. "She's, ummm, considered more of an environmentalist. If a more moderate legislator was involved, it wouldn't have the red flags on it that Wagenius brings."
Wagenius' response?
"That excuse is lamer than her bill," she muttered. "What I can't understand is what could possibly be a more conservative position than parents being told what's happening to their children."
Tingelstad said Tuesday that Wagenius isn't the only reason House Republicans are again opposing the bill.
"I think if this was a funding year [in the Legislature] it would have passed," Tingelstad said. "But here you have a school issue and an unfunded mandate. That's the kiss of death."
Tingelstad said her bill, which calls for a study spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture, would put legislators in a better position to know what steps need to be taken in the future. Her rationale is that Ag would take the lead on the study because it is the responsible governmental agency for all pesticides.
Wagenius said there are no costs associated with her bill. Under terms of the legislation, school districts could include the pesticide notification with any other notices the district sends to parents.
"I have to say it's interesting they want Ag involved," Wagenius said. "This bill is about pesticides and children. Ag knows cows and pigs. It doesn't have one standard regarding children."
Wagenius and Roe suggest that House Republicans are listening to the large farm chemical companies, not their constituents. Republicans, of course, deny such dastardly implications.
And on it goes.
The Senate's Janet Johnson bill and the Republican's further-study bill are now in a conference committee. And it's looking as if neither will become law this year.
Roe, who has tirelessly pushed for the pesticide bill, is disappointed -- but far from defeated.
"How naive I was," she said.
"When I started I didn't think it would be hard. I'd just go to the Capitol and say, 'Look at this great idea.' I've been amazed at the games that are played. But I guarantee you, I'll be back. They haven't seen the last of me."

Posted: 8/25/99.
Sen. Janet Johnson praised for hard work, sensitivity to constituent needs

Feelings of personal devastation and utmost respect are being expressed by the many who knew Minnesota state Senator Janet Johnson.
Sen. Johnson, 59, North Branch, died Saturday, Aug. 21 following her second surgery in just over a month for a malignant brain tumor.
"She had a strong relationship with her constituents and they have lost a warm and trusting person and a good friend," remarked Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, DFL-Erskine.
Her District 18 included Chisago and Isanti counties and parts of Kanabec and Pine counties.
Sen. Moe said he had spoken with Sen. Johnson following her diagnosis and following her surgery. "Her spirits were high and she was determined to beat it (cancer)," he pointed out.
Private funeral services were Tuesday, Aug. 24 and a public memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the North Branch High School auditorium A reception is planned following the public service. Sen. Moe and other senate leaders said a large legislative contingency is expected.
Memorials can be directed to the Janet Johnson Memorial Fund at Community National Bank, 5481 St. Croix Trail, North Branch, MN 55056. The family will disperse the memorials to the various projects and programs that Johnson supported.
"Janet had a strong passion for state government and for the U.S. Constitution," commented her husband, Dennis Odin Johnson. "She got that from her dad who had a tremendous feeling for the United States since his parents came from Italy," Johnson explained.
She was born March 5, 1940 in New York City's Bronx and move to Minnesota in the 1960s.
Sen. Johnson always had a love for laws and governing, and wanted to participate in the process, her husband said. " She was good at it, too, and was always thought to be fair," he added.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Jessica Lipsky Roe (Deane) of Golden Valley and Jennifer King (Shannon) of Eden Prairie and a son Erik of North Branch. Survivors also include grandchildren Sarah, Ethan and Soren Roe and sisters Connie Reilly of North Branch and Anne Grassi of Airmount, N.J.
The environment, education, mass transit, human services and rural development were some of her legislative concerns. She was chairwoman of the Transportation Budget Subcommittee. She also served on Environment & Agriculture Budget Division; Environment & Natural Resources; Jobs, Energy & Community Development; State Government Finance and Transportation committee.
Johnson, a small business owner, was first elected to the Senate in 1990. She was re-elected in 1992 after legislative district lines were redrawn and she won again in 1996.
In her public announcement recently about her cancer, Sen. Johnson said she planned to focus on her treatment and recovery in order to be ready for the 2000 legislative session that convenes in February.
Sen. Johnson and her husband owned and ran Natural Spaces, a housing company specializing in environmentally efficient homes. For many years she has worked an exhibitor's booth in the Home Improvement Building at the Minnesota State Fair.
"Janet made an impression on everyone and had time for everyone, even with calls about her cancer," husband Dennis says. He said one of her nurses informed her that she had doorknocked her house during one of her election campaigns. Sen. Johnson reportedly made more than 8000 doorknocking calls during her first campaign for the senate.
Prior to winning three terms to the senate, she was a candidate for the House, she served seven years on the North Branch School Board and she recorded seven years as Chisago County DFL chairwoman. Johnson also logged 15 years on the Minnesota Environmental Education Board.
Family was her world and "she provided the love and other ingredients to meet" the needs of her children, said husband Dennis.
"She was a real class act, a decent person who brought the highest ideals to the Minnesota Senate," said Sen. Moe. "It was such a pleasure to work with someone who was always optimistic," he added.
Her dedication to protecting our natural resources will top the list of her accomplishments, believes Sen. Moe. "She was a steward of our natural resources in her private life and with the public policy she advocated," Moe stated.
Three other senate colleagues classified Johnson as a legislator respected by her associates.
"Janet carried the same agenda of the environment and eduction that I have chosen and she was one of the first people I got to know in the Senate," related a tearful Sen. Jane Krentz, DFL-May Township. "She was always policy oriented, very fair, hard working and someone I have tried to emulate," Krentz continued.
Sen. Paula Hanson, DFL-Ham Lake, called Johnson a "dedicated lady" and a person who will be missed. Both served on the Transportation Finance Committee.
Senate Minority Leader Dick Day, R-Owatonna, also served on the transportation committee with Johnson and admired the fact that she respected the minority party. "She was very open and easy to get along with," he said. He also praised her for making sure that rural Minnesota received dollars as well as metropolitan areas. "She was a very happy lady," he said.
Former State Sen. Gene Merriam, Coon Rapids, served on several committees including the Environment and Natural Resources Committee with Sen. Johnson and said he was impressed with her caring efforts for protecting the environment and for conserving our natural resources.
"She was real easy to get along with and pretty steadfast in her ideals but never unpleasant," Merriam commented. "She was very resolute in standing up for what she believed in," he added. He categorized her as a "pleasant and determined" person. "She was willing to take on the tough issues," Merriam pointed out.
On the House side of state government, two of Johnson's colleagues, Rep. Jim Rostberg, R-Isanti and Rep. Loren Jennings, DFL-Harris called Johnson a hard worker who was dedicated to her constituents.
Rostberg said Johnson embraced issues outlined by her constituents and said last session he co-carried legislation with her to benefit organic farmers. He said he also worked with Sen. Johnson on waste water treatment issues for Cambridge and Isanti and on college issues of importance.
"Everything I heard about her was that people in her district respected her ability and her hard work," Rostberg said.
"We certainly have lost a good citizen," said Ellis Johnson, Mayor of North Branch. Mayor Johnson said Sen. Johnson was a good listener and once she knew what her constituents wanted, she pushed forward. "I found her to be a very reasonable person and one who was easy to discuss matters with," he added.
Wally Trulson served with Janet Johnson on the North Branch School Board and said "she was right up on the issues and ready to move on them" after doing her research
A dairy farmer, Karen Strike, also District 18 DFL chair, said Sen. Johnson accomplished her work in a quiet, unassuming manner. "If you had an issue and she was aware of it, she would pick it up and go with it," Strike said.
"She was willing to help out anyone," said Curtis DeYoung, Chisago County DFL chairman and associate District 18 DFL chair.
It is speculated that Gov. Jesse Ventura will set a special election for the District 18 seat for Tuesday, Nov. 2. A primary election date may also be required.