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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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1948-01-01 |
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| Name | Charles M. Johnson |
| Address |
Pender County, North Carolina , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
April 09, 1891
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| Died | June 02, 1964
(73 years)
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| Contributor | Chronicler |
| Last Modifed | Chronicler
May 15, 2020 08:32am |
| Tags |
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| Info | Charles Marion Johnson came to the office of Treasurer, well-experienced and already seasoned in the area of public finance. Prior to his appointment in 1932, Johnson had served as deputy clerk of court of Pender County for seven years and then 18 months as district tax supervisor under the Revaluation Act. Then he worked five years in various capacities in the State Auditor's office, serving first as a traveling auditor, one year as auditor of disbursements, and finally as deputy auditor.
He was appointed secretary to the County Government Advisory Commission by Governor Angus W. McLean and in this position became familiar with the concerns of local governments throughout North Carolina, as they were entering a period of hard times. His success in this position, particularly his ability to deal with county leaders in an honest and frank manner, led Governor 0. Max Gardner to appoint him as the first Secretary of the Local Government Commission, which was created by the General Assembly in 1931. Johnson's great sense of humor, no doubt, helped him succeed during these times.
Shortly before the end of Governor Gardner's administration, Johnson was named Treasurer. In 1933, Governor J. C. B. Ehringhaus recommended, and the General Assembly concurred, that the Local Government Commission be consolidated in the Treasurer's office, where it remains today.
Johnson served North Carolina ably during the Great Depression. He became a highly trusted and respected financial advisor not only to the several Governors who served during the decade of despair, but he also assisted county and city leaders with their financial and budgetary difficulties. As Treasurer, Johnson gained the trust of New York bond investors. Because of their confidence in the ability of the State and its local governments to recover, Johnson persuaded bond investors to negotiate repayment schedules until the State and the nation saw better economic times.
Johnson was re-elected to successive terms until 1948 when he became a candidate for Governor and was favored by the faction of the Democratic Party that had ruled North Carolina for several decades. He led the primary by a small margin, but was forced into a runoff by W. Kerr Scott, formerly the Commissioner of Agriculture. Scott won the primary runoff and the general election in November, campaigning on the promise to get farmers out of the mud by improving the State's farm-to-market roads. Johnson was criticized during the campaign for allowing the State's surplus funds to sit idle in banks and not earn interest that should be accruing for the benefit of taxpayers. Johnson never harbored bitterness because of his defeat, but became active and successful in both private and public ventures.
He joined First Securities Corporation in Durham and later became executive vice president of the Bank of Charlotte. He was appointed by President Harry Truman as Collector of Customs at Wilmington. He was appointed by Governor Terry Sanford to the State Banking Commission where he served two terms.
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