The Manning Rotary Club welcomed Clarendon County Council Chairman Jay Johnson as the guest speaker at its May 28 meeting. Johnson, who was elected chairman last year, shared his personal background, his perspective on local governance, and the challenges and opportunities facing the county.
A lifelong resident of New Zion, Johnson spoke candidly about his unexpected path into public service. “I never intended on being a politician,” he said, recalling how he left college just 12 hours shy of a civil engineering degree to help on his family farm after his father’s back injury. “But sometimes the Lord puts you where you’re supposed to be.”
Though relatively new to elected office, Johnson emphasized the importance of communication and accessibility in his role. “If you’ve got a problem, call me,” he said. “I might not agree with you, but I’ll listen to you. That’s my job.” He said he fields calls daily, many of which fall outside county jurisdiction, but he makes an effort to return every one.
Johnson highlighted the complexities of local leadership, particularly around balancing funding demands with taxpayer expectations. “Everybody wants more money for departments, but they also want their taxes cut,” he said. “It doesn’t work that way. We’ve got to live within our means.”
He also touched on major growth issues, from the need for more housing to economic development, noting the recent announcement of Project Bonjour—which will bring 300–340 jobs to the county with a starting salary of $69,000. He acknowledged that agricultural landowners’ reluctance to sell poses a challenge to expansion but said economic pressure is likely to shift that over time.
Johnson answered questions from Rotarians about impact fees, development planning, and constituent engagement. He credited the county’s development board for pursuing industry and said long-term progress depends on collaboration and community involvement. “We’ve got people with great ideas, but if they don’t show up to meetings or speak out, those ideas don’t move forward,” he said.
When asked what he’s most proud of so far, Johnson said, “That I’m just a nobody from New Zion who ran against a 24-year incumbent and won. And that I’ve made it through a budget without flipping out.”
The meeting closed with an update from President Johnson James on the ongoing Children’s Dictionary Project. This year, Rotary Clubs from Manning and Summerton, alongside Delta Kappa Gamma, helped distribute dictionaries to more than 9,300 third-grade students across the district. “The kids are always excited to get them,” James said. “This is one of those projects that really makes a difference.”
The Manning Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at noon at Porter Jack’s restaurant in Manning. For club updates and events, follow Manning Rotary Club on Facebook.
