John F. (Jack) Johnson was one of North East’s longest-serving mayors, leading the small municipality through most of the 1970s. He managed a frugal, cost-efficient operation — An old 1871 lock up served as his town hall, police station and library.
When the Cecil Whig once remarked that the town didn’t have a budget (Oct. 28, 1970), the feisty, outspoken mayor said: “Whenever we need to fix something or build something new to improve the town, we always have the money.” Recently a flagpole went up on North Main Street to greet the public, he added.
Under Johnson, the town had two full-time policemen, Roy Wilson, the chief, and Leroy Biggers patrolman (1970), a town secretary, and a maintenance worker.
One of his special interests was the town waterworks so in addition to being mayor he also served as the town water commissioner and did much of the work himself. When talking about the work he was capable of doing in order to maintain the system, he remarked: “most engineers bother me.” He had learned to be an expert mechanic from his father, on-the-job training, and his keen insight into mechanical matters.
When the county became interested in the town’s water plant because officials wanted to establish a countywide system, things often got heated. “I’d dynamite that (filtration plant) before I’d let them f!$%? have it,” Johnson told the Evening Journal (April 5, 1972). “I believe you would,” an acquaintance of Johnson’s put in, only half in jest.”`
The voters returned him to the office for 6 terms starting in 1965. But after twelve years in office, the people decided it was time for a change in 1977, and Bill Ball was elected to lead the municipality.
For Additional photos of North East Under Mayor Jack Johnson see this album on Facebook
Mayor Jack Johnson of North East (Source: Cecil Whig, Sept. 22, 1976)