Experience
A Career Built Around Public Service
John Maczko brings decades of experience in local government, public safety, engineering, infrastructure, and community leadership to his service in Mendota Heights.
A lifelong Mendota Heights resident, John has served on the City Council since 2025. Long before joining the Council, however, his commitment to the community was already well established.
Public Safety & Leadership
39 Years Serving Mendota Heights
John served 39 years with the Mendota Heights Fire Department, including 32 years as Fire Chief. As Chief, he was responsible for personnel, budgets, operations, emergency preparedness, and protecting the community he calls home.
During his leadership, the department was twice named Minnesota Fire Department of the Year. John also served in leadership positions with county and state fire organizations.
Engineering & Municipal Leadership
Decades of Municipal Experience
John is a registered Professional Engineer in civil and traffic engineering with more than four decades of professional experience.
He spent 33 years serving the citizens of Saint Paul in traffic operations and municipal engineering, including service as City Traffic Engineer and 12 years as City Engineer. His work required balancing public safety, transportation, infrastructure, budgets, neighborhood concerns, and the long-term needs of a major city.
In 2015, the City Engineers Association of Minnesota recognized John as Engineer of the Year.
Today, he continues to work part-time with a municipal and traffic engineering firm, keeping him actively involved in the practical challenges facing cities and their infrastructure.
Experience With a Purpose
Putting Experience to Work for Mendota Heights
John believes experience matters most when it helps government make better decisions.
His career has given him firsthand experience managing public resources, leading people, responding to emergencies, planning infrastructure, solving complex problems, and working with residents whose perspectives do not always agree.
Those experiences shape his approach to Mendota Heights: listen before deciding, distinguish needs from wants, use taxpayer resources responsibly, protect public safety, and make decisions with the long-term character of the community in mind.