GoodParty.org candidate

James Johnson

McDonough City Council - District 1

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About the Office

The City Legislature is the municipality's governing body, responsible for voting on ordinances and policies, and often is in charge of hiring a city manager.

Term Length

4 years

Election Date

Nov 4, 2025

About Me

Party

Independent

Occupation

Consultant

Fun Fact

In my free time, I write and honestly learning to do nothing. Love to meet new and interesting people. Love to serve where I can.

Past Experience

I was born and raised here in McDonough. This city shaped me, and now I’m ready to serve it at a higher level. As a business leader, community trustee, and lifelong resident, I know the challenges our neighborhoods face. Too many families feel left out of decisions, too many small businesses struggle without real support, and city services aren’t delivered equally across our community. I’m running for City Council to change that. I’ll fight for fair, reliable services in every part of our city, real accountability and transparency with your tax dollars, and stronger partnerships between city hall and our citizens. My promise is simple: to listen, to act, and to always put McDonough first. Here’s a **comprehensive rundown of your experience**, weaving together everything I know from our past work with the additions you just shared. This gives you a polished biography you can use in speeches, campaign materials, and on your website. --- # Xavier Johnson – Experience & Community Service ### 📌 Leadership & Executive Experience * **Extensive Business Background:** * General Manager in the restaurant industry. * Managed a medical massage therapy practice. * College president and vice president, overseeing **10 colleges**. * Ran consulting businesses focused on **leadership training, marketing, and grassroots entrepreneurship**. * **Executive MBA** with expertise in marketing, business startups, and leadership. * Specializes in **Donald Miller’s StoryBrand framework** and has created his own **Legendary CONVERT and CAPTAIN frameworks** for business growth and leadership. --- ### 📌 Community & Civic Engagement * **Trustee, Henry County Schools Foundation.** * Served on **multiple committees throughout McDonough and Henry County** as a volunteer. * Substituted at local schools and coached **soccer and football**. * Mentored youth for over **20 years**. * Pastored **Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur, GA (2015–2018)** where he grew the church from under 50 to over 300 members through community engagement, outreach, and livestream integration. * Pastored his first church from 1999–2001. * Lifelong commitment to servant leadership and community building. --- ### 📌 Family & Personal Story * A **native of McDonough** — homegrown and deeply rooted in the community. * Father of four (James, Travis, Chester “CJ,” and Elizabeth). * After leaving high-level corporate executive roles, made the **intentional choice to prioritize fatherhood and family**. * For the last decade, many in the community — including **McDonough’s longest-serving Mayor Billy Copeland and other leaders** — encouraged him to run for office. His response: *“The best thing I can do for the city and county is to be a dad.”* * Today, with his children grown and his roots stronger than ever, he is stepping forward to serve McDonough at a higher level. --- ### 📌 Core Identity * **Servant Leader.** * **Educator and Mentor.** * **Business Builder.** * **Community Connector.** * A trusted voice who has consistently answered the call to serve **where and when he was needed**. --- 👉 This is your **campaign biography backbone**. It positions you as: 1. A **credible leader** (executive/business experience). 2. A **servant leader** (pastor, mentor, coach, trustee). 3. A **dedicated father** who chose family first. 4. A **community-rooted candidate** now ready to step into elected office.

My Top Issues

Promoting equitable distribution of infrastructure investments

Every neighborhood deserves the same quality of services.

Fund youth mentorship and leadership programs

Ensure that we partner with programs that are making an impact in the lives in our youth. Reduce violence within the youth population via career and training initiatives.

Business development grants and zones

Local businesses are the backbone of our economy.

Who I'm Running Against

Omega Finney (Independent)

Mother, Nurse and Public Servant Omega Finney chose McDonough in 2005 because of its affordable housing, excellent school system and overall great community. She immediately felt at home here and knew it was the ideal place to raise her daughter. She deeply believes that all current and new McDonough residents should have access to affordable growth opportunities. As a way to give back to the City, Omega served on the Henry County Board of Elections and Voter Registration (HCBOEVR) for four years, including one year as Chair. During that time, she played a pivotal role in overseeing budgets as well as ensuring smooth county elections through collaboration with colleagues, the Director of Elections, and staff. She focused on improving the voting experience for Henry County residents through advocating for expanded early voting, enhancing voter and poll worker education, pushing for a new elections building, and increasing legislative advocacy and communication related to elections. As a second-generation Nurse, she brings a proven track record of identifying and solving complex problems, honed through her work as a Clinical Informatics Registered Nurse and her recent service on the HCBOEVR. In her nursing role, she bridged a critical disconnect in patient care between the Emergency Room and inpatient settings: collaborating with clinicians to implement evidence-based practices that significantly improved patient outcomes. This ability to analyze challenges and drive effective solutions will be crucial for her work as part of the City Council. Omega has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia Baptist College of Nursing and a Master’s in Nursing Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Informatics from Georgia College and State University. Her more than 25 years in the healthcare field have been instrumental in developing her strong organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to serving the community. Beyond her dedication as a public servant, Omega is a loving mother and wife who finds joy in spending time with her daughter, two energetic fur babies, family, and friends. Her personal passions include getting lost in a good book, exploring the world of anime, and being a proud and enthusiastic part of the Star Wars fandom.
 

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