ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 13, 1997 TAG: 9702130031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN AND ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITERS
Johnson, 49, resigned Tuesday as Brunswick County's administrator, a post he has held for the past four years. Previously he had worked as administrator in Craig and Nelson counties.
"I knew it would be quite a challenge," he said of the new job. "I'm a person that needs to be challenged."
"Mr. Johnson's varied experience in state and local government during his professional life makes him an excellent replacement for Betty," board Chairman Joe Gorman said during a brief news conference at the county courthouse Wednesday.
"The primary concern we had with applicants was experience with dealing with legal issues in Virginia," Gorman said. "His experience as an administrator has been very good and hopefully that experience will make us even better."
Johnson did not attend the news conference announcing his appointment. He said via telephone from Brunswick County that the opportunity to return to Southwest Virginia was a strong incentive for his family.
His wife, Deborah, is a native of the Roanoke Valley, and Johnson's daughter, Meggen, is a freshman at Roanoke College. He also has two young sons.
Johnson graduated from Narrows High School in 1966. He was an all-state basketball player and credits his former coach, Bill Patterson, with being a strong influence on his life.
The new administrator earned his college degree from East Tennessee State University. He said he worked during several summers as a construction laborer on Virginia Tech's campus.
Johnson said his late father, Jesse, a former head of the Giles County Social Services Board, also influenced him to work in public administration.
"He taught me it was an honorable profession. And I still believe that strongly."
Johnson has been a juvenile probation officer in Christiansburg and an administrative supervisor with the state Department of Corrections. He served as administrator in Craig County from 1981 to 1990, Nelson County from 1990 to 1992 and Brunswick County from 1992 to the present.
He said he sought each job as a step up to larger counties and more responsibility. Johnson said he learned of the opening in Montgomery from an advertisement in the Virginia Association of Counties newsletter.
Johnson's annual salary here will be $65,164. He said economic development will be one of his primary emphases here. "The opportunities are just tremendous."
He will also have to hire a new assistant county administrator and economic development director. That process will give him "the opportunity of picking your own team," he said.
One of the eight semifinalists for the position, Assistant County Administrator Jeff Lunsford, withdrew his name after accepting a job late last week as Louisa County's administrator.
Johnson said his career experience with a variety of local officials will help him adjust to the Montgomery board's hands-on management style. "All board members come with different ways of doing things," he added.
He also praised Thomas, a compliment that the longtime administrator returned. "He's a good person. He's professional and I think the county will be extremely pleased," Thomas said.
Thomas will have four weeks to help Johnson with the transition. "That's a good calendar," she said.
"He was my top choice and I think he'll make us a good administrator," said Supervisor Ira Long, who wanted a candidate with lots of experience in local and state government. "He knows a lot about both."
Long, who has served on the Board of Supervisors since 1983, called this decision-making process the easiest the board has faced during his tenure.
Supervisor Joe Stewart, who represents the Shawsville-Elliston area, said he didn't know Johnson before the interviews but "a man who works for me did know him and he highly recommended him. I like what he said. He was my choice and it's the first time in a long time I got what I wanted."
Supervisor Nick Rush said, "I give him high marks in just about everything," including experience, personality and familiarity with the surrounding area.
Johnson said he'll wait to move his family here until the school year ends so his wife, a special education teacher, can fulfill her contract.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB