[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S62-S63]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO DEAN JOHNSON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, last month marked the end of a 
distinguished career for Laurel County clerk Dean Johnson. Dean 
recently retired after 37 years of public service to his community, our 
Commonwealth, and this country. Today I would like to take a moment to 
reflect on my friend's many contributions to Laurel County and to thank 
him for his dedication to Kentucky.
  First drawn to public service at a young age through organizations 
like the Key Club and the Future Farmers of America, Dean spent his 
career focused on integrity and efficiency. After serving in the Armed 
Forces and for 4 years as the county's treasurer, Dean was elected 
Laurel County clerk in 1985. His leadership has brought substantial 
innovation and development to this eastern Kentucky community.
  In my State, a county clerk is responsible for providing a broad 
range of services to Kentuckians, including everything from voter 
registration and election management to licensing and recordkeeping. 
During Dean's tenure, the Laurel County clerk's office introduced new 
infrastructure and implemented new procedures to better serve a growing 
population. Running an election has changed quite a bit in Laurel 
County since Dean entered office, but his dedication has helped promote 
access to the ballot box for more than 44,000 registered voters.
  In addition to his work in Laurel County, Dean collaborated with his 
peers to share best practices in the Kentucky County Clerks' 
Association. Earning both their trust and respect, he served a term as 
the organization's president, helping deliver essential services across 
Kentucky. Like other county clerks, Dean supported his fellow veterans 
by repurposing license plates into birdhouses. The products are sold 
with proceeds benefiting our Commonwealth's veterans.
  Over the years, I have enjoyed working with Dean on behalf of our 
constituents, and I am proud to salute this man of great 
accomplishment. In his retirement, Dean plans to do more of what he 
loves most: spending time with his daughter, Teresa, and his 
granddaughter, Rebecca. He will also continue to oversee his 175-acre 
cattle farm. As he begins this next chapter, I would like to wish him 
the very best, and I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in thanking 
Laurel County clerk Dean Johnson for his decades-long service of our 
State.
  Mr. President, the Sentinel-Echo in London recently published a 
profile of Dean's accomplished career. I ask unanimous consent that the 
article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

[[Page S63]]

  


                [From the Sentinel-Echo, Dec. 26, 2018]

                Johnson Reflects on 37 Years of Service

                           (By Nita Johnson)

       Society has changed drastically in the last 30 years--with 
     technology being one of the major advancements.
       As Laurel County Clerk Dean Johnson fills his final days in 
     the position he has held for 33 years, he credits technology 
     as the most advantageous developments for his office 
     operations.
       When Johnson took office as clerk in 1986, he came from a 
     four-year term as county treasurer. In both offices, most 
     paperwork was done on typewriters--a business machine that is 
     now nearly obsolete. But when the technology craze hit full 
     force, the first aspect of the clerk's office was to have 
     computerized vehicle tag registrations.
       Another huge change came in the voter registration 
     processes--due to technological advancements and the growth 
     in population over the years.
       ``When I came in, there were only 26 precincts,'' Johnson 
     said. ``We had those big voting machines that were the size 
     of a refrigerator.''
       Within a couple of years, however, the use of Microvote was 
     created--the small blue ``suitcase'' style machine used to 
     cast votes.
       ``We've moved to the self contained machines now because of 
     the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) because all the 
     machines have to be compliant with that,'' he said. ``The 
     other machines were hard for people to use if they were in a 
     wheelchair. With that, we had to relocate some of the 
     precincts because some didn't have handicapped access.''
       Laurel County now boasts 45 precincts, all ADA compliant.
       While Johnson said he hasn't seen a huge increase in voter 
     registration or turnout, he said the division from 26 
     precincts in the mid-1980s to the current 45 precincts does 
     reflect on the county's increased population.
       ``The precincts divisions are done by the population in the 
     areas, not the number of registered voters in an area,'' he 
     explained. ``And the population is always determined by the 
     latest Census.''
       He feels that the Laurel County Clerk's office has always 
     maintained a high level of integrity and efficiency dealing 
     with the public for motor vehicle registrations, transfers, 
     voter registration and election procedures, and maintaining 
     the massive load of deeds, mortgages, and other legal 
     documents that fall under the scope of that office. And 
     Laurel County has excelled in being some of the first 
     counties in the state to utilize technology to better serve 
     the public.
       ``We were among the first counties in the state to create a 
     computerized absentee ballot form. I worked with a guy to 
     simulate the state forms,'' he said. ``Right now we have 
     44,000 registered voters in the county.''
       The clerk's office was also one of the first offices in the 
     county to receive and use a FAX machine, he said, adding that 
     the Laurel County Public Library was one of the first to 
     offer the FAX service.
       The growth in the county's population over the past 30 
     years has massively increased the work load for those who 
     serve in that office.
       ``When I came here in 1986, it was the 160th year of Laurel 
     County being established,'' Johnson added. ``There were fewer 
     than 200 mortgage books. Now we have approximately 1,200.''
       While the workload of the deputy clerks in the office has 
     increased to huge proportions over the past three decades, 
     Johnson said the application of technological advancements 
     has not caused a large increase in the employees needed in 
     his office.
       ``When I started, there were 10 employees and now we have 
     18, so we haven't had a big increase in the employees because 
     of the computer systems,'' he explained. ``This office has 
     come from a gross intake of $8 million to $15.5 million and 
     we've never had a non-compliant comment in the 37 years I've 
     worked for the county.''
       Being the Laurel County Clerk required Johnson to interact 
     with other clerks across the state over the years--some 
     associations for which he said will remain dear to his heart.
       ``I built a rapport with other clerks and I was active in 
     the Kentucky County Clerks' Association,'' he said. ``I 
     served one term as president.''
       He has many other accomplishments for which he is proud--
     one of which is the efficiency of tabulating the votes on 
     election night. With that process, the election officers 
     returning their precincts totals are met at the back entrance 
     of the Laurel County Courthouse and their equipment unloaded 
     by persons approved by the local election commission members. 
     The officers then carry in the case containing the printouts 
     of the votes and sign in for their particular precinct, which 
     are processed in the lobby in the ground floor near the Broad 
     Street entrance. The printouts are then taken to the clerk's 
     office on the second floor where the employees of the clerk's 
     office then separate the documents and record the votes. 
     Although the polls close at 6 p.m., most precincts have 
     submitted their results and the final count is completed and 
     reported by 7:30 p.m.
       ``I'm very proud of the efficiency we have on election 
     night,'' Johnson said. ``That goes to the employees in this 
     office and the state associations of elections for the 
     efficient way we process the votes and the accuracy we 
     have.''
       As an example, Johnson reflected on the 2016 Gubernatorial 
     race in which Republican candidate James Comer lost to now 
     Governor Matt Bevin by a mere 83 votes.
       ``We had to do a re-canvas,'' Johnson said. ``That 
     (statewide) re-canvas was completed on Thursday, with the 
     result coming out the same, of course. We aren't like Florida 
     and Georgia, that took weeks to do a re-canvas. In fact, in 
     national elections, Kentucky is nearly always the first to 
     report their results.''
       Johnson has also served as chair of the Laurel County 
     Republican party, stepping down this year after four years in 
     that position. He also has been involved with KACo (Kentucky 
     Association of Counties) for 12 years, is a veteran, is a 
     Shriner and member of the local masonic lodges.
       His interest in being a public servant came early in his 
     teens, being a President of his school's Key Club and FFA 
     (Future Farmers of America). He learned early on about 
     working hard, and said he always had a drawing toward 
     political issues.
       ``As a kid I liked to be active in things and I always 
     liked being involved in politics,'' he said. ``There were two 
     people in politics that I always admired--Boyd Boggs who was 
     a county judge executive and later the sheriff, and Dwight 
     Eisenhower. Those two had given a lot and I wanted to be able 
     to help people. As the clerk, you are in the position to help 
     people and I've tried to do that, not just with questions 
     about elections or vehicle registered. Other people just come 
     in and ask about different things and I always tried to help 
     them the best I could. I leave here with a good feeling 
     because I think I've done that.''
       His political interests also brought him another 
     accomplishment for which he is very proud.
       ``I was the Laurel County campaign chair and we brought 
     George H.W. Bush to the Bush community,'' he said. ``I was 
     also the chair when George W. Bush and (former Governor) 
     Ernie Fletcher came here.''
       In fact, the shelves that line a section of Johnson's 
     office have a picture of the late president, George H.W. 
     Bush, with Johnson when Bush visited the Bush Fire 
     Department. Johnson laughs when looking at the picture now, 
     saying, ``My hair was a different color then.''
       Johnson is also proud of his home county and of the many 
     advancements that have come to the residents of this 
     community.
       ``This county has been aggressive in growing and using its 
     natural resources,'' he said. ``We've had good leadership and 
     that continues on today. I hope we keep on and keep our best 
     and brightest here and supply them with jobs so they can make 
     a decent living and stay here.''
       Johnson is also very dedicated in his church, Calvary 
     Baptist, where he has served as the adult Sunday School 
     teacher for several years. He stands true to his beliefs--
     even when that belief is not the most popular or 
     ``progressive.''
       But his greatest accomplishment--and joy--comes from his 
     daughter, Teresa, and his only grandchild, Rebecca. He looks 
     forward to spending more time with them and his son-in-law 
     while he continues to oversee the 175-acre farm where he 
     raises cattle.
       ``I'm retiring as of December 31,'' he said. ``I'm going to 
     go home and relax.''

     

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