About Former Senator Owen Johnson's

Owen H. Johnson, Republican and resident of the Town of Babylon, was first elected to the Senate in 1972 and represents the Fourth Senate District, which encompasses portions of the Towns of Babylon and Islip in Suffolk County.  He attended West Babylon Grade School and Babylon High School.  After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps, he attended and was graduated from Hofstra College in 1956 with a B.A. degree in History-Political Science.  In December, 1998, Senator Johnson was the distinguished recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Hofstra University.

In 2011, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos appointed Senator Johnson the Senior Assistant Majority Leader.  He also holds a leadership role on the Senate Finance Committee where he serves as the Vice Chair.  His other committee assignments for 2012 include Banks; Children and Families; Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business; Environmental Conservation; Labor; Rules; and Transportation.

During Senator Johnson's distinguished career in the Senate, he has chaired several committees including Transportation, Environmental Conservation, Social Services, and Civil Service and Pensions.  From 2003-2008, the Senator chaired the powerful Finance Committee where he had a lead role in reviewing the Governor’s proposed budget and developing the Senate Majority Conference’s priorities for the State Budget.  While Finance Chairman, he also served as a member of the New York State Public Authorities Control Board and Co-Chairman of the Legislative Audit Committee.

Additionally, Senator Johnson has served as the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on the Long Island Marine District; a Commissioner of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; and Vice-Chair of the Legislative Commission on Government Administration.

On the National level, Senator Johnson is Past National Chairman and now serves as State Chairman and also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Legislative Exchange Council -- the Nation's largest individual membership organization of state legislators.  In 1995, he was the first recipient of ALEC's "Lifetime Leadership Award," which was created to recognize those members who helped shape the organization.

The Senator is a member of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Babylon.  He is married and resides with his wife, Christel, in West Babylon.  They have two children and a growing extended family -- son Owen; and daughter Chirsten, her husband Danny and their daughters, Eliza and Scarlett.