Giving back is different for everyone, and each experience is unique.

Throughout his professional life, John George always gravitated toward leadership, assisting others and enhancing lives. Now in retirement, George is continuing his altruistic legacy as the new mayor of Lititz.

"The most important quality a leader can exemplify is integrity," said George. "The legacy I want to leave is how I treated people and how I led. Those things supersede policy decisions. Those qualities should be prerequisites for public officials."

A former education administrator, George was officially sworn in as Lititz's mayor on Jan. 5 after winning the 2025 election. Former mayor Tim Snyder stepped away from the position after serving the community for 12 years.

"I think things are going well," said George. "One of the first things we had to manage right off the bat was a snow emergency. Everyone worked together, and we got the town back up and running. I've been speaking to service organizations like the Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club, the Lions Club and AMBUCS. All of these service clubs are struggling for volunteers. But a lot of the things they do make Lititz special."

As the mayor, George is the leader of Lititz, the face of the borough and a go-between connecting citizens and the six members of borough council. Officially, George also oversees the borough police force, participates in council meetings and breaks ties in borough council votes.

"I'm a leader, not the leader," said George. "There are a lot of leaders in the community. I have a role to play, but it's not the role. What a mayor does not do is run the day-to-day operations of the borough. That's what council does. I also defer to the chief on police force decisions."

"There's also a ceremonial role and a liaison role," added George. "I'm kind of the cheerleader of the town, working with business leaders. Lititz is a tourist town. I want to be an ambassador for the community. The mayor has a voice, and a voice can shape culture. The person who speaks can define how people perceive Lititz."

Lititz Borough encompasses 2.8 square miles. About 9,700 residents live there.

"We're in great shape," said George. "We have a healthy fund balance. Our businesses are thriving, and we continue to have a healthy number of visitors. We're a very safe community. Our schools are thriving, both public and private. We're family oriented. We have great family events designed for people of all ages. It's a community that allows that to occur on a regular basis. The challenge is, 'How do we continue those things?'"

"We do have an aging infrastructure that's going to need some tending to," continued George. "Parking is a challenge in town. The people who manage (Lititz Springs Park) have decided the park is more of a recreation area than an event venue. Now, a lot of special events have to find new venues. One of the things we've been discussing is how to keep those events. As our employers continue to grow, it's bringing in more and more employees, and housing is a challenge. There's really no place to build in the borough."

George served as an assistant superintendent for the Warwick School District and then as superintendent from 2005 to 2008. During his 40-year career, George served as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units, the executive director of the Berks County Intermediate Unit, the executive director of the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit and the director of special education for the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit.

"Everyone out there has a different opinion, no matter the subject," said George. "I want to find common ground. I think school superintendents do that very well. It's about understanding different perspectives. Being an education leader, you value everyone. Everyone's self-worth is respected. As a mayor, our community depends on outside visitors. We want to make sure they're feeling welcome, comfortable and safe."

"I think service to others is one of the things we should strive for," George added. "Public education is service. You're trying to make other people's lives better. As a mayor, you're doing service, whether it's helping business owners or residents or visitors. It's about making things better."