John Linder (Pennsylvania politician)

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John A. Linder is an American politician from Chester, Pennsylvania. A Democrat, he served on the Chester City Council (at large) from January 2010 to January 2012 and then as Mayor of Chester from January 2012 to 2016. He defeated Republican Wendell Butler Jr. in the 2011 mayoral race, becoming only the second Democrat to lead Chester since 1905 and the first since 1995.

Born in 1947, Linder earned a BA in Behavioral Sciences from Widener University and an M.Ed. from Kutztown University. He has worked as a teacher, counselor, and college instructor, including roles at Kutztown University (1976–1980), Northern Virginia Community College (1980–1989), and Delaware County Community College, where he taught political science. He has been a Master Trainer and associate of the Carkhuff Institute of Human Technology, focusing on interpersonal skills training for educators and counselors.

After becoming mayor, Linder retired from teaching to focus on city government and was named Director of the City Department of Public Affairs, which oversees the police department. In 2012, he joined the White House Strong Cities, Strong Communities initiative under the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 2015, Butler lost his bid for re-election to Thaddeus Kirkland in the Democratic primary.