GRANBY – State Senate candidate Bill Johnson said he has spent his life wanting to give back to his local community.

Shortly after opening his own business in 1981 that has since grown into The Johnson Groups of towing and auto body services, Johnson sought out public service. He was elected to the Granby Conservation Committee before becoming a selectman for Granby for 15 years.

His public service work has continued throughout his life, including an appointed trustee position from Gov. Charlie Baker for Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), a seat on the Granby police advisory, a role on the statewide towing association and a past director for the Granby Chamber of Commerce.

Now with his sons taking over the family business, Johnson feels running for the state Senate seat is the next step for him in his life of working to help others where he can.

“This run is a culmination of my business career and public service, it’s not a stepping stone for me,” said Johnson. “This is where I feel I should be.”

The Republican candidate said he wants to continue working for his community and be a voice for the district and the hard-working type of people that come from it.

Johnson added that his time spent as a legislative chairman for a state-wide towing association has given him experience on Beacon Hill and getting to know some ins and outs of the chamber. He also credited working on legislative issues related to towing as giving him great experience in getting things to the state government and passed.

Johnson said he is no expert, but that he does understand how the process works from his experience and feels his understanding of it would only grow with being elected.

Johnson said the issues most core to him are supporting public safety, parental right within schools and to value hardworking people and the value of the dollar.

“I believe the dollar is better spent by the people then the commonwealth. Less government is good government,” Johnson said.

Johnson reiterated that he felt less government intervention was always a good thing and that he would be looking to do just that.

He added he would also like to see more diversity of programs as it relates to the opioid crisis in the area and nationwide. Johnson said it’s an issue that impacts many and expressed support toward working towards combating the crisis.

Johnson also expressed his wish to bring more manufacturing back to the state as it would bring in more jobs for residents. He added that his focus will be on working with different groups and trade unions to bring manufacturing jobs back to the area.

“We need to start producing things and not just consuming things in the area,” Johnson said.

When thinking about the positive impact he hopes to bring to the state Senate, Johnson said being a voice for the working person is something needed on Beacon Hill to restore balance.

“I can bring the voice of a hard-working person. I’m not a career politician. This may sound old fashioned, but I truly believe what the framers of the constitution had in mind with the term ‘citizen legislature,” Johnson said. “I will bring the voice of people who work for a living, the voice of reason.”

Johnson doubled down saying that he felt the job is all about being the voice for the district and the voice for the average person. He added reforming taxes and getting people back to work was the best option to make a positive impact if elected.

“We need to restore balance on Beacon Hill. Whether somebody leans left, middle or whatever, I think it’s imperative that we all work together to solve the problems in the district,” Johnson said. “It’s not about Republican or Democrat, it’s about who has the experience, who has the ability to get things done and we need balance.”

Johnson feels balance issues is not unique to the state government, but that similar situations are happening around the country with one-sided party control, something he hopes to change if elected. Johnson sees it as a plus to bring his working persons perspective to Beacon Hill if elected and will continue working to do so as a man of the working-class voter.