Washington County Health Department Administrator Rick Johnson has worked for the state health department for more than 30 years, and he was administrator of the Washington County Health Unit from 1988 until unceremoniously canned by Republican Governor Mike Huckabee and his health Department Director Fay Boozman in 2002. He’s back. The 2006 election of Democratic Governor Mike Beebe and State Representative Jim House (D-Fayetteville) made a difference. Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton and other local political and health care leaders fought to have Johnson reinstated, but Huckabee ignored them and Boozman wouldn’t budge. The new Beebe administration thought Rick Johnson was well-qualified for the job, given his outstanding performance and his previous experience as local administrator for 14 years, and has reappointed him as head of the Washington County Health Unit.
Politics had no more to do with Rick Johnson's reinstatement this year than it did with his senseless demotion to restaurant inspector in 2002.
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