A new top executive for Forsyth County will take over Sept. 5. Eric Johnson was confirmed for the job of county manager at the most recent Board of Commissioners meeting. Johnson said that he was excited to be joining Forsyth County, and was looking forward to managing challenges and seizing opportunities.

County officials said Johnson has 30 years experience in county government, most recently as assistant county administrator for Hillsborough County, Florida. He’d also served the county in several other roles including strategic planning director and director of management and budget. He holds a master of public administration degree from the University of South Florida.

The county manager position had been vacant following the April retirement of Doug Derrer, who had served in the role since 2009. Since that time, Deputy County Manager Tim Merritt served as interim county manager

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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