Johnny’s parents ran away from the oppressive Soviet Stalinist government in the mid 1930’s-traversing through two countries before settling in one of the original Thirteen Colonies, New Jersey, during WWII. They left tyranny with liberty in mind to live the American Dream. In the early 60’s, they moved from the East Coast to California and lived in Southern California, which at the time was paradise. Johnny was no stranger to hard work. He started working at the age of eleven and, over the years, fell in love with politics.