Robert Edward Johns Jr.
Robert Johns Jr. Robert Johns is a military veteran, small business owner, and political science graduate running for the Lawton City Council Ward 6 seat in Lawton, Oklahoma. His campaign focuses on fiscal responsibility, small business advocacy, and prioritizing funding for essential city infrastructure and first responders.
Early Life and Military Service Johns was born and raised in Chesapeake, Virginia. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps before graduating from high school. Following his service in the Marines, he worked as a Ford dealer technician. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Johns returned to military service by joining the Army Reserves as a Chinook engine mechanic. Two years later, he transitioned to active duty in the U.S. Army as a Fire Direction Specialist (MLRS), serving a tour in South Korea before being stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He completed his military contract and left the Army in 2007.
Education and Professional Career After his military service, Johns worked as an automotive technician at a local Lincoln dealership and later as a wheeled vehicle mechanic for a contractor on Fort Sill. In 2009, he enrolled at Cameron University, where he majored in Political Science with a minor in U.S. History. He graduated with honors in 2014 and was inducted into the National Honor Societies for both fields. Following graduation, Johns returned to the automotive industry at Billingsley Ford. In 2016, he left stable employment to launch an independent towing business using a truck purchased from his former employer.
Political Platform and Views First Responders and Public Safety The core catalyst for Johns’ city council campaign is his dissatisfaction with how the city government manages public safety resources. He advocates for:
Competitive Compensation: Raising salaries for Lawton police officers and firefighters to match larger metropolitan areas like Oklahoma City and Tulsa to aid in recruitment and retention. Staffing Levels: Ensuring enough active police officers are on duty to safely cover every shift without relying on mandatory overtime or calling in off-duty staff. Technological Modernization: Implementing a drone system—similar to the Oklahoma City Police Department—to assist in rapid criminal response and search-and-rescue operations in the nearby wildlife refuge. Budget Prioritization: Diverting funds away from non-critical city staff or services if necessary to fully fund EMS, fire, and police departments.
Municipal Spending and Infrastructure Johns is highly critical of recent municipal investments, opposing multi-million dollar sports complexes and speculative corporate investments while basic infrastructure and emergency services remain underfunded. He has specifically voiced frustration over:
Infrastructure Parity: Improving local infrastructure so that city-managed corridors, such as Sheridan Road and Fort Sill Boulevard, match the visual and structural quality of the adjacent federal military base. Government Spending: Opposing tax subsidies for out-of-state defense contractors and tech ventures, referencing a controversial failed city-backed cobalt refinery project.
Economic Development and Local Government Johns campaigns on a platform of transparency, fiscal restraint, and support for the working class. His economic goals include:
Lowering Fees: Reversing the trend of rising utility rates and business license fees. Local Workforce Integration: Utilizing local trade schools and Cameron University to build a sustainable workforce, rather than importing out-of-state talent. Military Transition: Actively recruiting separating and retiring soldiers from Fort Sill to permanently settle and work within the Lawton community.
Personal Life Johns married his wife in 2015. The couple resides in Lawton, Oklahoma, and welcomed their son in May 2017.