Unhappy with the current direction of the International City/County Management Association, El Cajon City Manager Graham Mitchell decided to get involved and run for a seat on the executive board.

In previous years when he only saw one name on the ballot for each seat -- he assumed it was due to apathy.

Little did he know that the ICMA establishment created a process whereby they hand-selected the nominee who was all but guaranteed to win because voters would not have another name on the ballot to vote for.

In this episode, we discuss his experience running for the board and his efforts to change the way ICMA conducts elections in the future.

SHOW NOTES:

Graham Mitchell's LinkedIn page

The Midwest Rotation Agreement

LinkedIn post discussing the ICMA's violation of the Midwest Rotation Agreement can be found here and a screenshot of it can be found here.

The American Association of Municipal Executives is located at AAME.org.

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

A lot of people self-proclaim themselves to be "change agents" or transformational leaders who have changed their department or organization's culture. But a lot of this is fluffy, self-promotion meant to stroke the ego.

How many public sector executives have actual, quantifiable data to support these claims?

Durango, Colorado city manager Jose Madrigal is a truly transformative leader and he has the "receipts" to prove it.

We discuss his professional journey and his choice to become a first-time city manager in a new state. We learn how he was influenced by his dear mentor and how that manifested itself in Durango.

We also examine the benefits an improved culture and the importance good relationships with the local media can have on recruitment.

SHOW NOTES:

Jose Madrigal's LinkedIn page

The American Association of Municipal Executives is located at AAME.org.

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Over the last 18 months I have highlighted the plight of city managers and other public sector executives.

I have talked about the pervasive sense of loneliness and isolation that is oftentimes overwhelming. I have lamented the lack of advocacy for managers who watch helplessly as the reputation and career they have spent decades building is sullied and damaged.

When I have criticized the ICMA for sitting on its hands and not coming to the defense of managers, I am chastised by loyalists who steadfastly maintain that it is not the organization's job to defend managers.

Well -- public sector executives deserve to have an organization that will advocate on their behalf, take proactive steps to protect their reputations and careers, and fight for better compensation and benefits in a profession that has become extremely volatile, risky, and hyperscrutinized.

To that end, Micah Gaudet and I are launching the American Association of Municipal Executives.

We are going to build a community that supports, develops, and advocates on behalf of city managers and public sector executives.

We invite you to join us as we embark on this journey to build an organization that will transform public administration in America.

You have a truly unique "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to get in on the ground floor of something that will be historically significant for our profession.

Go to AAME.org and sign up today to become a Founding Member!

SHOW NOTES:

The American Association of Municipal Executives is located at AAME.org.

In this episode, Micah Gaudet referred to Daniel Rosemond's book "Death of the Public Servant."

Micah Gaudet's LinkedIn page

Daniel Rosemond's LinkedIn page

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.