Tom Johnson, Sr. of Greenville is filing as a Democratic candidate for the Pitt County Board of Commissioners, District 3.  A retired ECU teacher and former Commissioner, he believes there is much unfinished business.  According to Johnson, “A Detention Center addition and a Social Services building are essential.  Overcrowding cannot continue at the Detention Center and our dedicated Social Services professionals are located in five different buildings.   It is obvious that the Sheriff’s Department needs additional deputies.”  Johnson feels that his “experience and dedicated, passionate leadership will mean responsible decisions for the future of Pitt County."  Johnson's success as a leader comes from "doing his homework" and his availability to talk with concerned or affected citizens on all issues.

          During his tenure as a County Commissioner, Johnson demonstrated leadership as Chairman of the Board in 1991 and twice as Vice-Chairman.  An early supporter of televising County Commissioner business sessions, Johnson recognized the value of open public meetings.  Real passion was demonstrated in capital expense issues; the development of the Pitt County Office Park, the Courthouse expansion and renovations, as well as public school construction. Johnson asked the School Board to request the necessary appropriation for Wintergreen Primary at a time when there were no requests being made by the School Board.  Johnson feels that “future plans for school construction need to be made and submitted for a vote of the people.”  Fellow Commissioners twice chose him to deliver the ground breaking remarks at the County Office Park; on June 7, 1991 for the Detention and Agricultural Centers and November 2, 1992 for the Mental Health and Public Health Centers.

          Tom Johnson has been active in civic and community affairs, earlier as a Jaycee and now as a member of the Greenville Rotary Club. He is involved in the Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Commerce and as a member of Saint James United Methodist Church where he has served as a Sunday School teacher, youth counselor, delegate to annual conference, chair of the finance committee and vice-chair of the Administrative Board.

          Having grown up on a working farm and maintaining regular communications with leading Pitt County farmers, he understands the needs of the farmer.  He has developed a commercial center on family land near Richmond, Virginia and a residential development in Wayne County, giving him experience in planning, zoning and development.  His experience as a teacher and three-time chair of the ECU Faculty give him special insight into educational needs.  Johnson holds the A.B, M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill and he is married to the former Phyllis Lamm Wooten.