On Monday, November 17, Toby Johnson, who served as a member of the County Board of Supervisors from 1979 to 1994, passed away, at age 97.
Toby Johnson was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and served as Fifth District Supervisor for 16 years. Johnson was well-loved by his staff and his constituents. During his time on the Board, he was known to be a very energetic and active supervisor – carrying that same energy to his ranch in the Franklin/Elk Grove area. Among the many achievements during his tenure, he and his fellow supervisors developed a community plan for the rural town of Elk Grove to allow for its forthcoming growth. The 5th District was, and continues to be a diversified mix of urbanized communities, and extensive agricultural/farming communities.
Don Nottoli, the current District 5 Supervisor served as chief assistant to the former Fifth District County Supervisor Toby Johnson for 16 years before he was elected in 1994.
“Toby Johnson was a beloved and trusted friend as well as patient teacher and mentor,” said Don Nottoli, District 5 Supervisor. “With 29 years as a public school administrator and 16 as County Supervisor representing the Fifth District, he dedicated much of his life to public service. Toby’s integrity and common sense approach to matters big and small were complemented by his genuine concern for the people he served. He was a true statesman and one of the finest men I have ever known.”
In addition, Mr. Johnson was active on many boards and commissions that had tremendous impact on the Sacramento region: Delta Protection Commission, Local Agency Formation Commission, Mather Internal Study Team, Sacramento Area Council of Governments, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, Sacramento County Cable Commission, Sacramento Employment and Training Agency, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, Sacramento Public Library Board, Sacramento Transportation Authority, Solid Waste Authority, and the Sacramento-Yolo Port Commission.
Toby Johnson also spent 30 years serving the educational needs of local school districts as a teacher, principal and superintendent. To honor his innovative educational work, in 2002, the newly built Elk Grove middle school bears his name. Also bearing his name is a community park located near Power Inn Road and Meadowhaven Drive.
“We are saddened at the loss of such an admired figure in local government,” said County Executive Bradley J. Hudson. “His contributions in Sacramento County, and across the region, will never be forgotten.”
