A growth opportunity awaits Eric Johnson

By Gerald Britt
The Dallas Morning News

I think we can all be proud that Eric Johnson will be the new state representative for District 100. Certainly it was a victory by default: The sudden resignation of state Rep. Terri Hodge because of her guilty plea on federal charges of tax evasion and bribery made it impossible for her to assume office if elected.

There are those of us who liked Hodge, and we are saddened, disappointed and deeply regret what has happened.The electorate has no control over those circumstances. Yet some in District 100 chose to view Johnson's candidacy as a sign of disrespect and any support for his campaign was seen as disloyalty to Hodge.

Johnson's ability to garner support from the broader business community was viewed with suspicion, and his lack of "grassroots" leadership experience and, inexplicably, his Ivy League education were seen as disqualifiers – almost liabilities.

To me, this was a disturbing phenomenon: There was a time when a black politician's ability to gain broad support, achieve the best education possible and choose a path of public service on behalf of his community would have been celebrated. Those who vigorously and vocally sought to transpose these qualities into negatives should, at some point, explain how they can encourage young people to stay in school and get an education.

What I really hope is that Eric Johnson doesn't assume office with the burden of being the "anti-Terri Hodge." That's unfair to him and unfair to black men and women who have served their constituencies honorably and well.

The recent corruption trials and convictions of local black politicians make it easy to forget that as Johnson joins the state Legislature, the mantle he picks up extends far beyond that of Hodge. Men and women such as congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson have gone before him, as have Fred Blair, Zan Holmes Jr. and Dr. Jesse Jones. Johnson is also preceded by such icons and legends as Mickey Leland and Barbara Jordan.

These are among the many politicians whose public service included the challenge of gaining the respect of their colleagues while helping lead their constituents through the waters of great social change.

Each of these citizen servants made their supporters and their state proud. Johnson can look to those examples as patterns to fashion the quality and character of his public service after.

Johnson has done nothing to make me believe that he will squander this great opportunity. I hope he goes to Austin to do big things. I hope that he remembers politicians with limited agendas and narrow ideologies are disappointing. I hope he strives to become a statesman.

Johnson represents an area of North Texas with schools that need resources, infrastructure that needs improvement and neighborhoods needing economic development, better housing and jobs. As he learns the art of negotiation, debate and compromise peculiar to state office, he should avoid the tiresome excuse-making and complaints about how difficult his job is or how hard it is to get legislation passed. He must remember that he wasn't drafted; he asked to be elected.

There are plenty of examples to inspire Eric Johnson's success as the new representative for District 100. And there are plenty of residents in and outside the district who need him to follow those examples and be successful.

The Rev. Gerald Britt Jr. is vice president of public policy at Central Dallas Ministries. He blogs at changethewind.org.

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