Othello Mayoral Race: Ken Johnson

OTHELLO — Ken Johnson said he thinks Othello needs some new leadership, and that’s why he’s running for mayor. Johnson is challenging incumbent Shawn Logan in the November general election.  

“There are some things that need to be changed,” Johnson said. “I feel like the only way we’re going to get it done is with a new mayor.” 

Johnson is an eight-year veteran of the Othello School Board; his position was up for election, but he filed for the mayor’s job instead of another school board term.  

“It was a very, very tough decision,” Johnson said. “I feel that (Othello School District) is in a great position right now. It’s in some great hands, and I felt that now it was a good time.” 

Johnson was an Othello City Council member for about 14 years.  

Johnson said he wants to address what he believes is unnecessary friction between the Othello city government and other agencies and nonprofits in Adams County. He cited the decisions to start a separate animal shelter and a municipal fire department as examples.  

The city had contracted with Adams County Pet Rescue for an animal shelter, but decided to end that contract and build their own. Othello has a contract with Adams County Fire District 5 for fire services. The contract runs out in May 2026, and Othello City Council members voted not to renew it and set up a separate fire department.  

“Unfortunately, when things like that happen, it hurts all of the citizens, especially when you split up entities like that. Nobody’s a winner; it will end up costing everybody a lot more. I want to try to get that working relationship back with other entities,” Johnson said. If he’s elected, Johnson said he would recommend reconsideration of the decision to start the city’s own fire department.  

“I would like to see that brought back to the table to see what we can do,” he said. “I think I was originally on the council when we negotiated that first contract, and it was a good contract. One fire department that would cover all of us is a cost savings to all the citizens around Othello, not just the city but the county too,” he said. 

Logan, the incumbent, is also the city administrator, and Johnson said he wanted to change that. 

“I do not believe the mayor should also be the city administrator. It takes away accountability for that position,” he said. “The mayor is supposed to oversee the administrator, but there’s no oversight for that, except for the council.”  

Combining the two roles has led to some of what Johnson said he believes are poor decisions. 

“I’m not saying (Logan) doesn’t know what he’s doing, but I believe there have been some mistakes made that have kind of been oversights that a good city administrator would’ve caught, or worked through processes,” Johnson said. 

Johnson said he thinks city officials need to take a close look at budgeting for the maintenance of existing facilities. 

“They’ve done some wonderful things in the past. We’ve got some nice amenities that have been put in, but it’s all been by grant money,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, we can’t keep running on grant money.”  

Othello will have other obligations, he said, including the Othello Community Pool and possible repairs to the heating-cooling system at Othello City Hall. 

“We have to be a little bit more accountable with our money,” he said. 

Othello city officials are working on developing alternate sources of water, and Johnson said he wants that work to continue. 

“We’ve got a lot of growth that’s going on now – I would like to make that a little more streamlined,” he said. “I would like it to be that when a developer comes in, not put a book in front of them saying, ‘This is what you have to follow.’ I would like to be at the door to say, ‘What can we do to help you get your project done?’ I want to be more proactive.”  

Johnson has lived most of his life in Othello, moving there when he was 8 years old, he said.  

“I’ve been there 55 years-plus. Othello is my home – I grew up there, I graduated there. My kids have grown up there, graduated there; I’ve got grandkids going to school there. It’s my home,” he said.