Eau Claire County Board confirms John Johnson as county administrator

The Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors confirmed John Johnson as county administrator on Tuesday, voting 27-0 to approve an employment contract that becomes effective Sept. 8, 2025.

The appointment was moved by Supervisor Wilkie and seconded by Supervisor Leary after Supervisor Russell, speaking for the Committee on Administration, said the committee voted 5-0 earlier that evening to recommend confirmation. Russell asked the full board for “your full support in confirming the appointment of John Johnson as our next county administrator and affirming the employment contract.” The contract, Russell said, had been signed by Chair Coffey and Johnson and is contingent on board approval.

Under the motion, a “yes” vote confirmed the appointment and the employment contract as presented; the board did not negotiate terms during the session. The board clerk announced a final tally of 27 yes votes, 0 no votes and 0 abstentions, formally approving the appointment.

After the vote, Johnson addressed the board, saying, “I pledge to serve with honesty, integrity, and humility in my role as administrator.” He said he planned to meet with the county board and department heads before the end of the year and expected a kickoff meeting with supervisors in October to gather goals and priorities.

Committee and board members thanked staff who worked on the hiring process. Supervisor Russell specifically recognized human-resources and legal staff for their hours on the search and contract. The meeting record shows the committee on administration had voted 5-0 earlier to forward the resolution to the full board.

There were no public comments recorded on the appointment item. The board adjourned shortly after the confirmation; a small, voluntary prayer group formed afterward for those who chose to participate.