Attorneys

Craig M. Johnson
cjohnson@jaspanllp.com

Craig M. Johnson (D-Port Washington), 34, is currently serving his third term as Nassau County Legislator, following a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of his mother, Barbara, from breast cancer in March 2000. He represents the 11th Legislative District, which includes the areas of Albertson, Baxter Estates, East Hills, Flower Hill, Garden City Park, Glenwood Landing, Herricks, Manorhaven, Plandome Manor, Port Washington, Port Washington North, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, and Searingtown. Legislator Johnson was just recently re-elected to his fourth term in November 2005 with a total of 10,496 votes, which constituted 71 percent of the vote.

Since his election, Craig has dedicated himself to restoring the fiscal integrity of Nassau County. He has not been afraid to make the tough choices and cast difficult votes to fix the financial problems facing Nassau County. Craig's focus on finances has brought about dramatic change in the course of the county. His leadership during the budget process have been a stabilizing force for Nassau. His hard work and efforts have not gone unnoticed. In fact, in January 2004, Craig was appointed chairman of the prestigious Finance Committee. The youngest legislator ever named chairman of this committee, Craig is responsible for oversight and legislative supervision of Nassau County's $2.2 billion budget. Not surprisingly, Newsday recently praised Craig as “distinguishing himself as a fiscal conservative with a health sense of independence.”

He currently serves as the Chairman of the Finance Committee and as a member of the Economic Development and Labor; Towns, Villages and Cities; Government Services and Operations; and Public Safety committees. Prior to being elevated to chairperson of the Finance Committee, Craig served as chairperson of the Economic Development and Labor Committee. During his tenure as chairman of this committee, Craig held legislative hearings concerning economic development in Nassau County.

Craig's legislative accomplishments include:

• working with local civic and environmental groups to pass a $50 million environmental bond initiative
• coordinating efforts among state legislative and local community leaders to eliminate an unfair sewer tax levied on residents of East Hills and Roslyn Heights
• authoring county law designed to protect Nassau County consumers by requiring all tax preparers to disclose all fees and charges for refund anticipation loans. Newsday's editorial board praised the law for its protection of Nassau County's working poor; and
• authoring county law requiring owners of private, non-bank ATMs’ to register them with the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs, legislation designed to protect users of these machines from identity thieves.

He has been honored by various civic organizations and institutions for his legislative work, including the Sass Foundation and Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington.

A bankruptcy and commercial law attorney, Legislator Johnson is Of Counsel to the law firm Jaspan Schlesinger LLP where he serves Of Counsel. Johnson previously worked as an associate with Reisman Peirez and Reisman in Garden City. Prior to his association with Reisman Peirez, the legislator worked at the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallager where he was co-founder of Broader Interest Group, a monthly forum with former Governor Mario Cuomo, where attorneys and non-legal staff discuss issues of public concern. Johnson was also active in the "Constitution Works," a non-profit organization in which attorneys teach constitutional law to inner-city high school students.

Johnson was raised in Port Washington and attended public schools in the Port Washington school system. He earned his BA, magna cum laude, from Amherst College and received his Juris Doctor degree from St. John's University, where he graduated in the top seven percent of his class and was an editor on the law review.

Craig Johnson lives in Port Washington with his wife Liz and two sons, Benjamin and Samuel.

B.A., Amherst College magna cum laude J.D., St. John's University top 7% of class

New York