Democrats tap Fire Commissioner and Soccer leader for Council posts Mike Johnson, D, C, Working Families by Carolyn James

Mike Johnson, center, with his son and wife.

One weekday afternoon Mike Johnson meets a reporter at a local diner for an interview. He apologizes for being a little late but explains that he’s on vacation and was home trying to finish his "honey do" list.

"But that’s off the record," he says.

So, we won’t include that in this article about Mike Johnson, the Democratic candidate for Babylon Town Board. Instead, we’ll talk about his life growing up in Copiague and his role as a family man, employee with the MTA, local volunteer and as Commissioner for the Copiague Fire Department.

Johnson was born in Brunswick Hospital and attended Copiague schools. Forty-four years old, he’s married and he and his wife of 19 years, Jodi, have a son Michael.

Carol Quirk, center with her husband and sons

Michael Johnson grew up in a home where community service was a household staple. His father was involved in scouting and was past president of an organization within the Copiague Youth League. His mother worked right beside her husband, running the concession stand at the Little League events and helping to raise money for the youth of the community. He remembers watching as his mom and other volunteers sat in his living room sewing uniforms and learned early on, he said, that people have an obligation to give something back to their community.

"If you want to bring about change and be a part of something, you have to be involved," he says, summing up his philosophy of community service. "There will always be disappointments and setback but you have to keep pushing and believe in what you are doing."

That’s evident in his commun-ity of Copiague, he said, where people have gotten together and made the investment of time to make their part of town a better place.

Johnson is a mechanic with the MTA’s maintenance department. Prior to taking that job several years ago, he was a marine supply salesman, and struggled through the economy of the 80s and early 90s that hit the industry hard. "It wasn’t easy," he said, "but I enjoy people so that part of the job is what I really liked."

The oldest of four children, the experimental model, he says, Johnson has three brothers who are also involved in their communities, a reflection, he said of the impact of his parent’s influence on each of them.

"One thing about having your parents involved in the community—you have a lot of parents watching over you out there," he says recalling the days he was growing up in Copiague. "There was always someone around looking out for you and ensuring that you kept on the straight and narrow." He can recall many of them by name: Mike Caesar, Bill Cruthers, Tony Iannotta.

Johnson recalls his first few years playing on the Colts football team in Copiague. His father was the coach and he relegated Johnson to the position of defensive end, "because he didn’t want to be accused of favoring his son.

"Thankfully I went on to have other coaches and play other positions," he said laughing at the recollection.

As an young adult, Johnson decided to serve his community in another defensive position—as a volunteer firefighter. He joined the Copiague Fire Department, serving with the Engine Company and decided a few years ago to take a great role in the department as a whole by running for Commis-sioner, a position he won.

"I think it was a natural progression for me from firefighter to commissioner and I have enjoyed working to help keep the department up to date and progressive," he said.

All of the training he received in the department came together for Johnson one New Year’s Eve. He was at home, celebrating with family and friends when a drunk driver struck several people standing outside of his home. His brother-in-law was seriously injured. "I ran out to him and went into auto-matic pilot," said Johnson. "I was on the ground work-ing on him when the Chief of the Department, Digger O’Dell got to the scene. All I can remember is him getting down into a puddle of gasoline and telling me that he would take over."

His brother-in-law, Richie, who was 20 years old at the time, eventually died of complications from the accident—he had a brain tumor that ruptured as a result of being struck by the car—and Johnson calls that one of the worst days of his life. "I think to this day I could make the trip from my house to Sloan Kettering with my eyes closed," he said. "But my brother-in-law taught me how important it is to live every day the best you can."

If his brother-in-law taught him the importance of life, his son taught him the essence of joy. "I remember the day he was born...he had a shock of red hair and all I could think of was my mother who would say to me when she was angry at something I did, that I should have a son just like me.

"Actually, he’s not like me at all," Johnson added, laughing. "He’s got my sense of humor, but he has his mother’s disposition and he’s organized and a great student."

And, the younger Michael Johnson also just got his senior driving license, which, the elder Johnson said, opens up another whole level of parental apprehension. "I guess it would be okay for you to say that," he tells the reporter.

Carol Quirk, D, C, Working Families

by Carolyn James

There’s a piece of land about 100-feet wide and 60-yards deep on Commack Road in Deer Park. The land has been cleared and a fresh layer of seed has been put down in the hope that the cool autumn and long winter will nurture a crop of lush green grass in the spring. It’s Carol Quirk’s Field of Dreams.

"It’s taken five years, but we now have a soccer field in Deer Park for our youngsters," said Quirk who led the charge to bring the site—once a vacant piece of property overgrown with weeds—to its present state.

"The property is owned by the Deer Park Fire Department and it was laying dormant," said Quirk. "So, I asked if we could use for for a much-needed soccer field for the children."

But the change didn’t come easy. Quirk said the initial reaction from the fire department officials was that they could not legally permit the property to be used by the community in that way.

"They said no and I asked them why," said Quirk who said she can accept any answer as long as the reasons are valid and she can understands the issues. "Just don’t tell me no, give me a good reason; tell me why something is wrong or won’t work and I can accept that."

Quirk said she checked and found out that, in fact, the club could legally use the property and kept going to the fire department meetings trying to get the Board of Fire Commis-ioners to see their point.

"I just couldn’t understand why anyone would rather have weeds and mountains of dirt rather than kids playing on a field," she said.

Eventually Quirk brought all the forces together—fire officials, state and town representatives—and the pieces began to fall into place. Quirk is a Democrat running on the Democratic line for Babylon Town Council. She said her experience as a volunteer and civic leader has made her a better person and made her realize that people can bring about change and make a difference.

"It was five years of struggle and hard work but when I pass there and look at the field I am encouraged. We can accomplish so many things if we really work together. We now have a Field of Dreams, courtesy of the Deer Park Fire Department."

Quirk was born and raised in Queens. She attended St. Gabriel’s Elementary School and then Dominican Commercial High School. She graduated from Bayside High School after her family moved there.

The only child of Italian-American parents Frances and Anthony Luciana, she learned from them that you have to work for what you want in this world. "And, she said, "I also learned that we have to take care of each other, not only as friends and family but as communities and countries around the world."

It was in high school that she met her husband Jim. The couple went out for three years and married, moving to Deer Park 35 years ago after her husband served in Viet Nam. They raised their children there, Jim who lives now in Connecticut, John a special education teacher in The Bronx and Kevin, a college student.

As her family grew up, Quirk became involved in her Deer Park community, serving in PTA (She’s a past president of the May Moore Elementary School PTA and a lifetime member of NYSPTA), and cheering her children on in the Deer Park Soccer program. Eventually she would serve as a coach and leader of the organization, and move on to become vice president of the Long Island Junior Soccer League, an organization of 83 soccer clubs, throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties serving more than 10,000 children.

Serving children is and has always been an important part of Quirk’s life. She is a paraprofessional school aide and works with special children in Western Suffolk BOCES. She said she enjoys her job and finds it more rewarding than difficult.

"I like going into work every morning because the days are always different," said Quirk. "You get up, go into school and from there on, you never know," she says laughing.

What she does know, however, is that there is a special feeling she gets when she can make a child smile or laugh and that makes all the difference in the world. "There’s no more important job," she said.

Her decision to run for office comes at a perfect time in her life, she said. Her children are now grown and she can move on to another phase in her life. "It is time for me to take what I have done in Deer Park, and with the Long Island Soccer League, and bring groups together on a town level," she said.