08/27/2026
"CJ' JOHNSON ANNOUNCES BID FOR MONROE MAYOR IN 2028 TO "BRING THE WORLD TO MONROE": Former University of Louisiana Monroe basketball player turned international entrepreneur Cedric "CJ" Johnson has officially announced his bid to run for Mayor of Monroe in the 2028 election.
Pledging to finance his campaign using personal funds, Johnson’s platform centers on driving economic growth by establishing Monroe as a premier destination for big-name concerts, major conventions, and national tourism.
Channeling the legacy of former Mayor Jack Howard—who built the Monroe Civic Center in the 1960s—Johnson wants to revive the "Fun Roe" era. He argues that recent municipal investments in infrastructure are underutilized without aggressive venue promotion.
He wants to expand and modernize the civic center, then aggressively promote Monroe on the national stage and "bring the world to Monroe."
"The civic center is the city's money maker, but it needs a promoter to make it happen," Johnson said, noting his goal is to get the world to beat a path to Monroe's door.
Under his administration, professional staff would oversee day-to-day operations, allowing Johnson to focus on national networking and recruiting major entertainment tours.
A long-time community mentor, Johnson also plans to relocate his raw hair manufacturing enterprise, The Wholesale Hair Guy, from China to Monroe to boost local employment and bridge the gap for the city's next generation.
