Former councilman is hired to fill post

Campbell Mayor John Dill said he had supported Lewis Jackson Jr.’s re-election.

CAMPBELL — Mayor John Dill has hired Lewis F. Jackson Jr., former 4th Ward councilman, as city administrator.

The salary for the part-time post is $10,000 a year.

Jackson, 63, lost his seat on council in 2007 to Juanita Rich by three votes after a recount. Dill said he had supported Jackson’s re-election.

The city administrator oversees the day-to-day operation of the various departments, including the water treatment plant, police, fire, street and finance departments. Jackson also fields citizen calls for such things as potholes, high grass and delinquent water bills, Dill said.

Campbell had been without a city administrator for about four years, during which time Dill assumed the duties of the job.

Dill said the appointment of Jackson, effective Dec. 17, 2007, frees up more time for him to do such things as work on getting grants, looking for ways to improve the city, and talking with neighboring cities about mutually beneficial projects.

The position of city administrator has been vacant since William Van Such resigned when he was elected president of council. Van Such was making $41,000 when he left the job Dec. 31, 2003.

Dill said the full-time position was not filled because the city is in fiscal emergency and could not afford it.

However, a lawsuit was filed against the city in 2007 saying that the city charter requires that Campbell have a city administrator.

When he advertised the position, Dill said the only response came from Jackson, who served seven years on council.

Dill, who said he supported Jackson for re-election, said Jackson is qualified for the position because of his knowledge of government gained as a member of council, and because he was for many years a supervisor at Cold Metal Products, giving him administrative experience.

Jackson, who said he would not have taken the job if Dill had not been re-elected, is a 1962 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School. He worked 38 years at Cold Metal Products, including 18 years as a supervisor in charge of shipping and receiving, inventory and the annealing department. Before he became management, he was a shop steward, a member of the grievance committee and treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 3047 at the plant.