Dr. Willie Johnson Jr. hails from a family that has been involved in local politics for several generations. Deciding to run for county supervisor of the 13th district of Milwaukee County after witnessing that the seat for District 13 was open, Dr. Johnson defeated his former opponent by a 62% to 38% margin. As such, he became the 13th district county supervisor for the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in 2000. After serving in the role for 22 years, he was elected 2nd district county supervisor in 2022.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Johnson served the Financial Assistance and Child Welfare Divisions of the Milwaukee County Department of Human Services beginning in 1987 before being elected in April 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Northwestern University, as well as a Master of Arts in humanities and a Doctor of Philosophy in humanities, both from the Wisconsin University of Theology.
Outside of his primary career efforts, Dr. Johnson has dedicated himself to civic advocacy, having served as a board member for the Neighborhood Housing Services/NeighborWorks of Milwaukee and as a task group member of the Housing Opportunity Partnership for Southeastern Wisconsin. Furthermore, Dr. Johnson is a board member of Economics Wisconsin, an executive committee member and board member of the Three Harbors Council, a member of the Boy Scouts of America, and was the chairman of the learning for life committee of the Three Harbors Council. Since 2004, he has remained a board member and past president of the Wisconsin Counties Association, and since 2000, has been a member of the Milwaukee Child Welfare Partnership Council. He also served the Milwaukee County Commission for Persons with Disabilities, alongside a myriad of other organizations.
To attest to his success, Dr. Johnson has won several accolades. Among these awards, he earned the Civil Rights Partnership Award from the Federal Highway Administration, the Secretary’s Golden Shovel Award from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Small Business Champion Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Prior, he won the “Best of the Best” Award from the Milwaukee Community Journal, Inc., and was named Community Advocate of the Year by the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund, among other recognitions.