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Metro Councilman Dan Johnson Won't Seek Re-Election

during the Democratic Cucus meeting at Historic City Hall, in Louisville, Ky., on June 19, 2014. Photo by Eleanor Hasken
Eleanor Hasken
during the Democratic Cucus meeting at Historic City Hall, in Louisville, Ky., on June 19, 2014. Photo by Eleanor Hasken

Louisville Metro Councilman Dan Johnson won’t run for re-election in 2018.

Johnson, a Democrat, is among the longest-serving elected officials in Louisville. He was among the initial slate of Metro Council members elected in 2002 after city-county merger. Before that, he'd served on the old Louisville Board of Alderman since 1992. He was re-elected in 2014.

When asked about his plans for his upcoming re-election in 2018, Johnson told WFPL’s Jake Ryan: “Well, I am not going to run for councilman again.”

He also said he hasn’t ruled out running for mayor.

“It is something I will definitely consider,” he said. “I understand that there may be other things happening with our mayor, that he may run against Rand Paul next year.”

During his time in city government, Johnson was an advocate on issues ranging from merger to a downtown arena. In recent years, he's pushed for the revitalization of Colonial Gardens, the former entertainment complex in South Louisville that has fallen into disrepair.

He's also at times been a controversial figure.

Johnson was sued by a local businessman who provides high-interest loans to people with bad credit for lack of payment on a $15,000 debt. He also made a controversial hire last year when he named the sitting Jefferson County Judge-Executive Bryan Mathews his top legislative aide.