Walter H. Niehoff, Kingston, a native of Lehighton, last night was elected as borough manager by the Jim Thorpe Borough Council.

Niehoff, a former Lehighton borough manager, has been serving in recent years as director of research for the Central Division of the Pennsylvania Economy League, a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that does research for state and local governments in Pennsylvania.

Niehoff is well-known locally because of the outstanding work he performed while in the Lehighton post. He is the brother of Mrs. Lewis Anthony, Jim Thorpe, and former Carbon County District Attorney Carl Niehoff, Lehighton.

His salary was set at $10,500 per year.