Conroe Council Appoints T.J. Johnson Interim Administrator

CONROE — The Conroe City Council officially appointed T.J. Johnson as the city’s interim administrator during its June 26 meeting, finalizing a leadership transition that began last week.

The appointment passed with a 4-1 vote, with Council Member Harry Hardman casting the lone opposing vote. The decision follows the sudden departure of former City Administrator Norman McGuire, whose final day of employment with the city was June 21.

Johnson, who previously served as the director of the Conroe Parks and Recreation Department, had already begun transitioning into the interim role on June 24.

While the council moved quickly to stabilize the city's executive branch, the compensation package attached to the interim role became a point of contention during the Wednesday meeting. The council approved a monthly salary of $23,333.33 for Johnson, which equates to an annual base salary of $280,000.

Hardman, who voiced concerns regarding the process used to arrive at that specific compensation figure, argued that the financial commitment required more deliberation. Despite the dissent, the majority of the council moved forward with the appointment to ensure continuity of operations.

Johnson brings a decade of municipal management experience to the position. Before joining the City of Conroe in October 2020 to lead the Parks and Recreation Department, he spent ten years serving The Woodlands Township in various capacities.

In addition to confirming Johnson’s interim appointment, the council directed city staff to immediately begin the search for a permanent city administrator. The move marks the beginning of a recruitment process that is expected to be a top priority for the council in the coming months.

The vacancy left by McGuire comes amid a broader period of administrative evaluation for the city. McGuire, who had been serving in the top administrative post since his appointment in 2023, stepped down amid growing discussions regarding the city’s long-term leadership goals.

With the council’s vote now on the record, Johnson assumes day-to-day oversight of city departments, including the implementation of the current fiscal year budget and the initial stages of preparing for the upcoming budget cycle.

The City of Conroe maintains a council-manager form of government, where the city administrator serves as the chief administrative officer, responsible for the execution of policies set by the mayor and city council.

Further updates on the timeline for the permanent search are expected to be discussed at future council meetings. Residents can track meeting agendas and search updates through the official city portal at cityofconroe.org.