John L. Bohanan was born in St. Mary’s County in 1958 and served as its district representative in the Maryland House of Delegates between 1999 and 2015. He attended St. Mary’s Ryken High School before going on to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance from Towson State University in 1981.

Immediately after graduating, Bohanan was hired as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Representative Roy P. Dyson, and served there until 1987. In the early 1990s Bohanan redirected this attention back to Southern Maryland. From 1987-1991 he served as a Senior Staff member in Tractor Applied Sciences Incorporated. He then became a Project Analyst and Operations Manager for SFA, Incorporated from 1991-1993. While at private firms, Bohanan was instrumental in establishing the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, an organization that sought to promote the economic development of areas surrounding Patuxent River and St. Inigoes Naval Air Stations.

Bohanan returned to politics in 1993 when he became U.S. Representative Steny H. Hoyer’s District Director. As a senior member of Congressman Hoyer’s Base Realignment and Closure committee, Bohanan helped to bring 5,000 new jobs to Southern Maryland while preserving hundreds of existing jobs at Webster Field and St. Inigoes Naval Installation. His early involvement with the air bases established a strong relationship between Bohanan and the local naval community that persists throughout his career.

In 1999 Democrat John Bohanan was elected into the Maryland House of Delegates and served as the Deputy Majority Whip for floor votes. His nearly 16 years in the House have been marked by a concern for public health and safety, opposition to slot machines, advancing local economic development, and providing legislative support to St. Mary's College of Maryland. Between 1999 and 2015 Bohanan served on the Executive Board of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, a group that sought to increase economic development and school funding in the area. He was also a long-time member of the Juvenile Drug Court Team (8 years), Maryland Veterans Caucus (10 years), and Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Caucus (12 years). He also served as Chair for both the House Emergency Medical Services Work Group (6 years) and the Saint Mary’s County Delegation. With his background in finance, Bohanan routinely advised Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and was also an influential voice concerning the annual House budget.

In 2000 Bohanan became U.S. House of Representatives Minority Whip Steny Hoyer’s Senior Advisor. He specialized in military issues as well as encouraging the growth of the economy and infrastructure. In 2010, the Maryland Gazette of Business and Politics named him as one of the Top 20 Most Influential Maryland Legislators.

In addition to his consistent involvement in Southern Maryland politics, Bohanan has also been active in the region’s cultural and historical communities. He has served on the Board of Directors for both Historic Sotterley Plantation and the St. Mary’s County Historical Society.

In the 2014 mid-term elections, Delegate Bohanan lost his seat to Republican Deb Rey by a margin of only 76 votes.