Gary Earl Johnson (born January 1, 1953) was the Republican governor of the U.S. state of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003. He is also a well-known and outspoken opponent of the War on Drugs. Image File history File links New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. ... Image File history File links New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... This is a list of Governors of the state of New Mexico (est. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries â€¢ Politics Portal      A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Massive mark-ups for drugs, UK Govt report Prevalance of drug use 1991-2002 The War on Drugs is an initiative undertaken by the United States with the assistance of participating countries, which is intended to curb supply and diminish demand for certain psychoactive substances. ...

From a fairly humble, Lutheran background, Gary Earl Johnson attended the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, with an emphasis on business. It was there that he met his future wife, Dee (1953 - December 22, 2006). In the early eighties, Johnson started a construction business from a loan given to him by his father-in-law. The business took off, as Johnson was able to capitalize on the need for modern buildings in the growing Albuquerque metropolitan area. The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... The University of New Mexico (UNM) is a public university in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ... This article is about the largest city of New Mexico. ... Wall Street, Manhattan is the location of the New York Stock Exchange and is often used as a symbol for the world of business. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1994 he received the Republican nomination for governor after a long primary campaign and close primary election. It is noteworthy that Johnson did not stand out as the first choice among many party leaders. Because he had little experience in politics, many assumed that he would not be able to fund a campaign for governor. Using his own money, Johnson was able to sway both Republicans and Democrats towards his libertarian beliefs. In the state general election, he defeated the incumbent Democratic governor Bruce King 50-40 percent in a nationally Republican year. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... Bruce King was a three term Democratic governor of the US State of New Mexico. ...

Johnson created some controversy when he met with representatives of the New Mexico militia movement on April 28, 1995, soon after the Oklahoma City bombing. Johnson said, however, that he was meeting with members of the New Mexico militia movement to ensure that they remained non-violent¹. Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker A militia is the activity of one or more citizens organized to provide defense or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ... April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist attack on April 19, 1995, in which the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, a U.S. government office complex in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was destroyed, killing 168 people. ...

In 1998, Johnson was reelected as governor, defeating Democratic challenger Martin Chavez 55-45 percent. 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Martin J. Chávez (born 1952) is the current Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico. ...

In 1999, Johnson became the highest-ranking elected official in the United States to advocate the legalization of drugs². Saying the War on Drugs was "an expensive bust," he advocated the decriminalization of both drug use and possession in order to save money and potentially regulate currently illegal drugs. His position was similar to that of the Libertarian Party in many ways, and led many political observers to believe he would run for political office as a Libertarian in the future. 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... The Libertarian Party is a United States political party created in 1971. ...

In 2002, Johnson left office as required by the Constitution of the State of New Mexico which states that a governor may not serve more than two consecutive terms. As of early 2005, Johnson has not announced any desire or decision to again seek election to any other office. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

As some observers had expected, after his term as governor Johnson considered running for president in 2004 as a Libertarian Party candidate. After declining the formation of a presidential search committee and deciding against such a run for president, Johnson has largely retired from politics and left public life, although he has recently discussed running for president in 2008. 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Johnson is also an avid triathlete who runs several miles each day and abstains from all drug use, caffeine, alcohol, and some sugar products. During his term in office, he competed in several triathlons and was also an outspoken advocate for physical fitness. In 2003, he climbed Mount Everest. Current photos of Johnson show him with shoulder length hair, sometimes a goatee, and wearing the casual attire of an extreme sports fan. A triathlon is a Greek word that refers to an athletic event made up of three contests. ... Everest redirects here. ...

Johnson currently serves on the board of directors of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a youth-oriented nonprofit organization that seeks to end the war on drugs. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is a Washington, DC-based non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1998 by a small group of students, including Shawn Heller of George Washington University, David Epstein of American University, and Kris Lotlikar. ... Massive mark-ups for drugs, UK Govt report Prevalance of drug use 1991-2002 The War on Drugs is an initiative undertaken by the United States with the assistance of participating countries, which is intended to curb supply and diminish demand for certain psychoactive substances. ...

It was reported in the September 29, 2005, Albuquerque Journal that Johnson quietly divorced his wife, Dee. The newspaper said that the couple were divorcing after "growing apart" and decided to go public with the news at that time. The couple had been married in 1977. September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Albuquerque Journal is the largest newspaper in New Mexico. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...

Mrs. Johnson was found dead in her cabin in Taos a few days before Christmas. She is survived by two grown children. Taos (IPA: ) is a city in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico. ... Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday that marks the traditional birthdate of Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Notes

1. ADL Fact Finding Report, "Beyond the Bombing: The Militia Menace Grows," Anti-Defamation League, 1995.
2. CNN - New Mexico Governor Calls for Legalizing Drugs - October 5, 1999 [1]

External links

• GaryJohnsonForPresident 2008
• "America's Most Dangerous Politician", interview in Reason by Michael Lynch.

Governors of New Mexico

Territorial: Bent • Calhoun • Lane • Meriwether • Rencher • Connelly • Mitchell • Pile • Giddings • Axtell • Wallace • Sheldon • Ross • Prince • Thornton • Otero • Hagerman • Curry • Mills McDonald • Baca • Lindsey • Larrazolo • M. Mechem • Hinkle • Hannett • Dillon • Seligman • Hockenhull • Tingley • Miles • Dempsey • Mabry • E. Mechem • Simms • E. Mechem • Burroughs • E. Mechem • Bolack • Campbell • Cargo • King • Apodaca • King • Anaya • Carruthers • King • Johnson • Richardson