September 16, 2012 08:15 PM UTC

Mike Johnston Now Delivering Groceries

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• by: Colorado Pols

Since his appointment to the chamber in 2009, State Senator Mike Johnston has always gone the extra mile in service of his constituents. He funds and staffs a community office out of his own wallet – especially remarkable, considering he’s a Denver senator with a district not far from the golden dome itself – and is widely recognized for his accessibility both during and outside of session. Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that Johnston has added yet another constituent service to his repertoire.

From Johnston:

Senator Johnston and King Soopers are teaming up to help combat the food desert in North Park Hill.

Since 2006, North Park Hill has been trying to get a grocery store built in the area. Now, King Soopers is offering to help: you can order groceries through the store’s online delivery service and have your goods delivered to our community office for free!

Here’s how it works: if you’d like to buy groceries, you can visit our community office Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 1 and 3pm to order food from the King Soopers website using our office computers. For a delivery charge of around $10, King Soopers will deliver groceries directly to your home (or our office can pick them up and deliver them to you for free). To schedule a different time to order groceries or to ask questions about the program, please contact Leslie Colwell at 720-432-4735 or lcolwell@mikejohnston.org.

Johnston is a rather unique member of the Senate. A prominent and Ivy League-educated expert on education issues, his connections across the country and in the Obama White House could propel him to nearly any position he wanted in Washington, D.C. Many, in fact, expected Johnston to join the administration after Obama’s swearing-in nearly four years ago. Yet he stayed in Denver, appointed to the Colorado State Senate to fill Peter Groff’s seat when the latter took a choice position with the Department of Education. Since first taking office, Johnston has dedicated himself entirely to his duties as state senator, as evidenced by the fact that he’s now delivering groceries.

Seriously, this guy is so committed to his job he’s almost a parody of a straight-laced public servant. It’s easy to imagine him walking up to a Park Hill house with his blazer slung over his shoulder and a bag of groceries in his left hand, reaching out for a handshake with his right and smiling when the door opens, “I’m Mike Johnston. I work for you.”

Johnston burned bridges with many members of his own caucus following the late-night passage of his teacher effectiveness bill in 2010, so questions remain as to whether or not he will ever ascend to leadership. And perhaps leadership isn’t even the best fit for Johnston. The less time he has to spend whipping votes and playing internal politics, the more time he can allot to working directly for and with constituents.

And that, it would seem, is where he’s making the biggest difference.