February 10 — Campus Conservatives will host former Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico for a breakfast with students and community members on February 27.
Johnson, a Republican, is currently chairman of the Our America Initiative and is a rumored presidential candidate in 2012.
A successful businessman, he defeated the incumbent Democratic governor in 1994. He was re-elected for a second term in 1998 and served until 2002 when the state’s term limits prohibited from seeking re-election.
As the governor of New Mexico, Johnson was fiscally responsible and stopped tax and budget increases. He vetoed 750 bills while in office — more than all the other governors combined. Johnson was known for his common-sense business approach to governing. He eliminated New Mexico’s budget deficit, cut the rate of growth in state government in half and privatized half of the state prisons.
Johnson also shifted state Medicaid to managed care (which led to better healthcare by creating a state-wide healthcare network that previously did not exist and which saved money) and reduced state employees by over 1000, with no firings. During his term, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax increase in the state’s history.
He is an outspoken advocate of physical fitness and has competed in numerous triathlons, marathons and cycling events. Johnson has climbed the highest mountains on four of the seven continents, including the summit of Mount Everest in 2003.
Further details on the breakfast event will be released shortly.
For those who are interested, you can find Gary Johnson’s new website at: http://www.ouramericainitiative.com
I also found an official Facebook group that was just created:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Johnson-Our-America/165297924363
I’ve already expressed my support for him and I hope that everyone does the same.
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