​Brad Johnson is the right person to lead the Anoka County Attorney’s Office
Anoka County Home Grown
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Brad grew up on Third Avenue in downtown Anoka. He attended Lincoln Elementary and is a 1988 graduate of Anoka Senior High School. Brad is married to Daisy, a Staff Sergeant in the Minnesota Air National Guard.
They live with their two children, Abigail and Leilani, in Coon Rapids not far from Showplace Theater. Their children attend St. Stephen’s Catholic School in Anoka and swim on the Great Wolf Swim Team in Andover and Spring Lake Park.
The family enjoys giving back to the community by supporting Feed My Starving Children in Coon Rapids, various veterans' homes and organizations, and the local police and fire departments, among other charitable causes and organizations.
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Brad's hometown education in Anoka earned him a Presidential Scholarship at Montana State University where he graduated with Highest Honors, and then a law degree at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and third in his class. Brad's successes as a private lawyer and as a prosecutor are rooted in lessons learned in Anoka.
Brad’s knowledge of Anoka County, its history, and the professional and personal relationships he has built within the county and the region drive his passion to improve the community. Brad is the leadership we need for Anoka County's future.
Trusted Local Leader
Brad’s devotion to public service in Anoka County speaks for itself.
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Elected twice to the Coon Rapids City County Council (2015-present)
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Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council (2021-present; alternate to Councilmember Steve Wells 2017-2020)
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Anoka County Fire Protection Council (2019-2020; alternate to Councilmember Brad Greskowiak 2021-present)
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Secretary on the Coon Rapids Housing & Redevelopment Authority (2017-present)
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Northstar Corridor Development Authority (2015-2016)
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Coon Creek Watershed District, Manager on the Board of Managers (2011-2014; nominated and appointed for two terms by the Anoka County Board)
Experienced and Ready
Brad’s 24-plus years of well-rounded and high-level experience as a trial lawyer, felony prosecutor, and child protection lawyer will benefit the Anoka County Attorney’s Office. He has handled thousands of cases, both civil and criminal. He has represented significant clients in both state and federal courts. Here are just a few of Brad’s career highlights.
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Chair of the Criminal Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association. Brad was elected to lead the MSBA Criminal Law Section in 2012-2013.
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Child Protection Unit–Hennepin County Attorney’s Office: Represented the Child Protection Department in cases involving serious physical and sexual abuse of children; Brad was selected to serve on the CornerHouse multidisciplinary team to consult on serious abuse cases where child victims are interviewed.
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Adult Prosecution Division–Hennepin County Attorney’s Office: Prosecuted serious violent felonies, including but not limited to murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, gun crimes, robberies, burglaries, and serious assaults.
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Complex Crimes Unit–Hennepin County Attorney’s Office: Prosecuted complex white-collar cases including organized crime and racketeering, mortgage fraud, public corruption, fraud, and the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. Brad has tried more mortgage fraud jury trials than any Minnesota prosecutor and his conviction in the Larry Maxwell case secured the longest prison sentence for mortgage fraud in Minnesota history.
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Two National Law Firms –The Gray Plant Mooty Law Firm (now Lathrop GPM) and the Womble Carlyle Law Firm (now Womble Bond Dickinson). Brad honed his litigation and trial skills over a decade at two of the nation’s best law firms representing clients in high-stakes cases in state and federal courts around the country.

Ethical and Well Respected
In the community and the practice of law, Brad has faced and overcome significant challenges and obstacles. Throughout the process he has become a well respected professional whose approach to solving problems and representing clients has earned the respect of his peers and judges. Here are two examples of comments made about or to Brad reflecting his work both as a prosecutor and as a City Councilmember.
From a judge to Brad’s office following a two-week public corruption jury trial in 2008:
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“I simply want to say that Brad Johnson gave one of the finest closing arguments I’ve seen in my hundreds of criminal trials as a judge. He took a complicated case involving detailed business records, difficult and not always helpful testimony from a great many witnesses, and wove together all of the strands of the case in a way that was masterful, riveting, eloquent, and brilliant.”
“He displayed complete mastery of the facts and the law, and despite the press of witnesses and exhibits, always managed to be up on fast-breaking cutting-edge legal issues that kept popping up in the trial. I don’t really know [how] he managed to do it all, trying the case alone.”
“He was grace under fire. And he did all of those things in a case where he was up against perhaps the pre-eminent criminal defense lawyer in the state, and a defendant who engendered considerable sympathy.”
Judge Lloyd Zimmerman (now retired) (no endorsement implied).
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From a Coon Rapids Resident:
“Hi Brad,
We bought a townhome in Weston Woods about one year ago. I was the editor of three newspapers over the years and attended many City Council meetings across Minnesota. Almost all were like attending a criminal court parole hearing. No Council members ever smiled. Now, moving to Coon Rapids and watching the City Council meetings on television, seeing Council members smile and laugh, it is like a family gathering, rather than a stern government meeting. Because of the family type atmosphere, more things get done, and why Coon Rapids is as important and successful as ever and only getting better. I just love living here.
Good Luck,
B.W.”


City Council
2015-Present

Class of 1988
Salutatorian

Coon Rapids Member
2021-Present
