GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government

Making sure residents have the opportunity to thrive. Dow Constantine, the Executive of King County, Washington, shares his path to public service and the work King County has done to be an employer of choice. He also shared the initiatives they have undertaken to address the challenges of climate change and his love of the Seattle music scene. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

First Town in the First State. Ann Marie Townshend, the City Manager of Lewes, Delaware, joined the podcast to talk about her career path and what it's like to manage the oldest community in Delaware. She talked about how she started her career in planning and what it took to get the experience she needed to take the step to become a City Manager. This episode was recorded from the 2019 ICMA Conference in Nashville, TN. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

Moving forward with confidence and clarity. Meredith Hauck, Assistant City Administrator in Merriam, Kansas, joined the podcast to talk about her side work as life coach. She shared her approach to leadership, self care and positive energy. She also talked about her career in local government and advice for communicating with people in the workplace. This episode was recorded from the 2019 ICMA Conference in Nashville, TN. Host: Alyssa Dinberg

Celebrating municipal innovation from California to Israel. Brent Stockwell and Amanda Daflos took over GovLove from the CityLab gathering in Washington, DC to talk innovation with four different guests. Beth Blauer is the Executive Director of GovEx at Johns Hopkins University (4:10). Tracy Colunga is the Chief Innovation Officer in Long Beach, CA (29:10). Itai Eiges is the Director of a new initiative called Hazira that will support innovation teams in Israel (51:50). Jason Reisdorfer is Director of Innovation & Technology for Sioux Falls, SD (77:30). This episode was recorded from the Chief Innovators Studio at 2019 CityLab in Washington, DC. Hosts: Brent Stockwell & Amanda Daflos

Behind the scenes of recruiting a City Manager. Mayor Rick Rogers from the City of Newberg, Oregon joined the podcast to talk about how they are approaching hiring a new City Manager. He describes the community and what the City Council is looking for in a new manager. Mayor Rogers also shared his path into public service. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

Transitioning into a new leadership role. Martha Bennett, the City Manager of Lake Oswego, Oregon, joined the podcast to talk about her first two months on the job. She also talked about her time leading two unique local government agencies Metro, a regional government for the Portland area, and the Columbia River Gorge Commission. Host: Ben Kittelson

Career advice, elected office and transportation all with a side of hot chicken. Four guests come on the podcast to talk about local government in the State of Tennessee and share a meal of Nashville Hot Chicken with GovLove. Eric Stuckey is the City Administrator of Franklin, TN. Brenda Wynn is the County Clerk for Davidson County, TN. Bill Purcell served as the Mayor of Nashville from 1999 to 2007. Felix Castrodad is the Director of Planning & Grants for the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority. This episode was recorded live from the 2019 ICMA Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Hosts: Alyssa Dinberg & Kirsten Wyatt

Delivering services in a better, faster, and more efficient way. Author Ed Henschel joined the podcast to talk about his career in local government and his new book, which is a practical guide to municipal service consolidation. Ed describes the different types of consolidation and shared service delivery, real world examples and his experience with navigating consolidation. Book: Municipal Shared Service and Consolidation Handbook Host: Kirsten Wyatt

Tackling tough policy questions with citizens. Linn Davis from Healthy Democracy joined the podcast to talk about the work of Healthy Democracy and how they use citizen juries to inform decisions. He also shared how they have worked with local governments like Milwaukie, Oregon to engage citizens on the decision on what to pay elected officials. Host: Alyssa Davis

Managing an international city. Tommy Gonzalez, the City Manager of El Paso, Texas, joined the podcast for a wide ranging interview. He talked about his career path, which started with 22 years in the US Army, how he revamped the El Paso budget process and the complexities of running a community on the border. He also shared how he has supported process improvement and what it took to win quality awards at two different organizations. Host: Ben Kittelson

Reliable insights for policy makers. Two guests join the podcast to talk about best practices in local government communications, using social media and finding better ways to measure resident opinion. Lisa Holder is the Communications Officer for the City of Sanford, Florida and shared her approach to keeping residents informed. Rachel Rembrandt the Head of Customer Success for ZenCity shared how their platform uses artificial intelligence and data from different social media platforms to gather insights for policy makers. Host: Javon Davis

Tackling complex challenges affecting Toronto residents. Paula Kwan the Director of the Civic Innovation Office for the City of Toronto joined the podcast to talk about leading an Innovation Team and driving culture change in an organization. Paula discussed her career path, which started in Toronto's technology sector, and working on issues like translation for residents that speak many languages. Host: Ben Kittelson

Democratizing data science. Two members of the Civis Analytics team join the podcast to talk about their work and engaging with local governments around Census 2020. Mo Cheeks is a Sr. Business Development Manager, and former Madison, WI Council Member, and Christopher Dick is the Managing Director of Civis Analytics. They talked about using data in a Census outreach campaign. Host: Kent Wyatt

Recognizing communities for civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation. Rebecca Trout, the Program Director of the All-America City Award & Membership, joined the podcast to talk about the National Civic League's work. She shared the history of the All-America City Award and stories from some of the communities they have recognized. Host: Javon Davis

Reinventing fiscal analytics. Chris Fabian, the Co-Founder of ResourceX, joined the podcast to talk about his work with local governments and improving how they prioritize the services they provide. Chris shared why ResourceX was started and examples from communities doing priority based budgeting. He also talked about government as a platform and starting a city from scratch on the moon. Host: Alyssa Dinberg

Data equity and local solutions. Dr. Eric Trevan, public administration faculty at Evergreen State College, joined the podcast to talk about economic development and analytics. He talked about his career path, which included time in local government and leading an economic development agencies, as well as the perspective of Native American communities. Host: Javon Davis

An empathy-driven approach to solving problems and serving everyone. Ryan Dowd the Executive Director of Hesed House, a homeless shelter in Aurora, Illinois joined the podcast to talk about serving people experiencing homelessness. Ryan talked about his book, A Librarian's Guide to Homelessness, and his training for libraries on how to work with challenging homeless patrons. He also dispelled myths around homelessness and discussed different policy approaches. Host: Kent Wyatt

Using mobile messaging to connect with hard-to-count populations. Perla Ni is the Founder and CEO of CommunityConnect Labs, the Census Outreach Project, and GreatNonprofits. She joined the podcast to talk about how local governments can reach all of their residents for the upcoming census. She shared how it's important to meet people where they are and how the Census Outreach Project can help. Host: Javon Davis

Building and sustaining a culture of equity. Brion Oaks, the Chief Equity Officer for the City of Austin, Texas, joined the podcast to talk about how they make racial equity actionable. He shared how they work to create a shared understanding around the history of segregation and discrimination in Austin and how old policies still impact the city today. Plus he described how the equity office works with departments to examine what they do with a racial equity lens and include that value in their work and budgets. Host: Ben Kittelson

Managing beaches in an era of climate change. Two guests joined the podcast to discuss shoreline management at the local level. First, Dr. Robert Young from the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines discussed a recent report that they published which did a cost-benefit analysis of buying out property owners in North Topsail Beach, NC versus maintaining the shoreline. Then Greg "Rudi" Rudolph, the Shoreline Protection Manager for Carteret County, NC, talked about his day to day work, the mechanics of beach renourishment, and his perspective on the report. Rudi also shared how they plan for sea level rise. Read the report: Coastal Hazards & Targeted Acquisitions, A Reasonable Shoreline Management Alternative Host: Ben Kittelson

Designing better government. Earlier this summer GovLove hosted a live recording at the Code for America Summit in Oakland, California. Three guests joined to talk about trends in local government and how they interact with data and technology in their organization. Warren Logan is the Policy Director of Mobility & Interagency Relations in Oakland, CA; Laura Biediger is a Community Engagement Strategist in Durham, NC; and Stephanie Chase is the Director of Libraries for Hillsboro, OR. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

Analytics and open data. Jason Jones, the Analytics and Innovation Manager for Guilford County, North Carolina, joined the podcast to talk about his work and career path. Jason shared what it took to set up a data program at Guilford County, how they have partnered with universities on projects and the importance of adding context to data. He also talked about his career path, creating his current role and how working in human resources has informed his career. Host: Ben Kittelson

Helping cities and counties listen to their employees. Dr. Leisha DeHart-Davis joined the podcast to talk about the University of North Carolina School of Government's Workplaces Initiative. She shared her research into public sector organizational dynamics and how managers can make their employees feel valued and part of a community. Host: Javon Davis

Data for good. Three people joined the podcast to talk about the 2020 Census and ways that local governments can ensure their communities get counted. They are all working with the Census Opportunity Project a process for engaging government, communities, and the technology industry to create digital tools related to the Census. Denice Ross is a Fellow in Residence for the Beeck Center for Social Impact & Innovation; Lorena Molina-Irizarry is the Director of Operations of Census Open Innovation Labs; and Drew Zachary is the Co-Director of Census Opportunity Project. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

Public service and civil rights. A father-son duo joined the podcast to talk about their different paths working with local government. Former Mayor Joe Riley led the City of Charleston, SC for 40 years and was involved in redeveloping downtown Charleston and starting the International African American Museum. Bratten Riley is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Citibot, a software platform that allows residents to text their local government for information and for organizations to keep residents informed. Host: Kent Wyatt

Sharing ideas, experiences and stories. Mac Prichard the President of Prichard Communications and Founder of Mac's List joined the podcast to talk about local government communications and job searching. He talked about how communications plans need to be strategic and align with the goals of the organization. Mac also discussed his "Find Your Dream Job" podcast and the skills of job searching. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

To chalk or not to chalk. Two lawyers from Ancel Glink joined the podcast to talk about the recent court ruling outlawing the use of chalk to enforce parking requirements. ShawnTe Raines, Partner, and Matthew DiCianni, Associate, walked through the case and the implications for local governments. They also touched on a few other legal issues at the local level that have their attention. Host: Javon Davis

Strategy, planning, storytelling, innovation. Matt Finch joined the podcast to talk about his work with libraries and other government entities on planning for the future. In this wide ranging interview he shared his path into doing this work, becoming future ready and tools for growth and change. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

The youngest female Mayor in the country. Mayor Tara Campbell from the City of Yorba Linda, California joined the podcast to talk about her two roles in local government, serving as Mayor of her hometown and working as Chief of Staff for Orange County Supervisor Donald Wagner. Mayor Campbell talked about what led her to local government, why she wanted to run for office and what she works on as a Chief of Staff. She also shared how her two roles influence one another and the issues facing cities in Orange County, CA. Host: Ben Kittelson

Empowering new leaders. Niel Laudati,Legislative and Public Affairs Director for the City of Springfield, OR, joined the podcast to talk about how the City is working to empower under-represented leaders. Through their City Link program participants meet leaders from different departments, learn about local government and build their resume for serving on boards or running for office. Niel also shared his career path in local government and his passion for Springfield. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

Linking theory to television. Dr. Erin Borry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham is teaching ethics in a creative way, by using the show Parks & Recreation. Scenes involving your favorite City of Pawnee employees are great case studies for understanding the dilemmas that public servants can face. Dr. Borry shares why she wanted to use the show in her classroom and examples of what students learn. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

Solving problems. Terrance Smith, the Director of the Innovation Team in the City of Mobile, Alabama, joined the podcast to talk about innovation, working with departments and taking on blight. Terrance shared the process the i-Team went through to get a handle on the problem of blight and then how to address it, which eventually led to a change in state law. He also talked about how they communicate about their work and how they bring in other city staff to explain their process. Host: Ben Kittelson

From borough and township to municipality. Mayor Liz Lempert joined the podcast for a wide ranging interview on consolidating governments and providing compost service in Princeton, New Jersey. Mayor Lempert shared her path into elected office and winning the 2018 Mayors Challenge for their composting initiative. She also walked through the process of consolidating Princeton Township with Princeton Borough and the impact it has had on both the community and government operations.

Examining the inclusiveness of cities. Xavier Persad, Sr. Legislative Counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, joined the podcast to talk about the Municipal Equality Index. Each year cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer and the city leadership's public position on equality. He also shared what cities have made strides on the index and what policies cities should look at to improve how inclusive they are.

Sustainable innovation. Nick Kittle, Government Innovation & Performance Coach and author, shares his lessons on leadership, innovation and improving local government. He talked about his experience as a Chief Innovation Officer, his book Sustainovation and the work he's doing now for Cartegraph. From building momentum to not being afraid to get fired, Nick has great advice for those wanting to make a difference.

Advancing inclusive local government. In honor of Pride Month, Pam Davis, Sr. Management Analyst for the City of Boulder, Colorado and the Leader of CivicPRIDE joined the podcast to talk about empowering LGBTQIA+ leadership in local government. CivicPRIDE is the first nationally recognized LGBTQIA+ professional association for local government management. Pam shared her coming out story and why a group like CivicPRIDE is needed in local government. She also discussed what organizations can do to be more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Institutionalized inequity in hiring. Dr. Shannon Portillo from the University of Kansas discusses how we have to challenge the assumption that merit-based hiring practices are "neutral." She and a co-author argue in a recent journal article that those practice can actually reinforce the preference of white men in public organizations. The article argues that if organizations want to encourage a diverse workforce they need to challenge these long standing hiring practices.

Leading (r)evolution in public libraries. Stephanie Chase, Library Director, and Hillary Ostlund, Library Manager, from the Hillsboro, Oregon public library joined the podcast. They talked about how they are adapting their expectations of employees and the service to patrons to improve customer service. In this wide ranging interview they covered everything from throwing out the organizational chart to night libraries and serving homeless patrons.

Measuring success. A trio of strategic planning and performance measurement experts joined the podcast to talk about their work: Ed Foley the Performance Management Analyst for the City of Olathe, Kansas, Josh Edwards the Strategy & Performance Director for the City of Durham, North Carolina, and Laura Chandler a Director at Clearpoint Strategy. Ed and Josh both shared their organizations' journey and Laura added the perspective of a software platform geared for strategic plans and performance measures. This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

Public safety and collaboration. Gary Jenkins, the Police Chief for Pullman, Washington, shared how his department uses drones to enhance their police work and improve operations. Chief Jenkins talked about how they started their program, training staff and how they collaborate with other city departments and organizations. He also shared his career path to becoming a police chief and the unique challenges of policing in a college town. This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

Unleash employees. Tom Darling the Division Manager of Public Service University at the City of Albuquerque, NM joined the podcast to talk about training staff and changing culture. He discusses why "entrepreneurship" is a useful trait and why it's important to bring to local government. He also talks about motivation and inspiring employees int he workplace. This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

Budgeting in a college town. Barrett Warren the Budget & Strategic Planning Manager for the City of Auburn, AL joined the podcast to talk about her path into local government and working in a college town. She shared how Auburn is balancing the demands of housing a big college student population with maintaining its small town aesthetic. She also explained "War Eagle" and how the city is working to communicate about the budget. This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

Writing legalese for residents. GovLove Legal returns with a discussion of how to write about complex legal topics in a way that is understandable for residents and elected officials. Jenny Kosek, Communications Strategist in West Allis, WI, and David Silverman, Partner at Ancel Glink Law Firm, share their perspectives and tips for taking complex legal topics and communicating them clearly.

Solving real-world problems with data. Three people from the City of New Orleans, Louisiana joined the podcast to talk about how the City uses data and earning a What Works Cities Certification. Melissa Schigoda is the Director of the Office of Performance and Accountability, Eric Ogburn is the Director of Enterprise Information and Jonathan Wisbey is the Chief Technology Officer. They shared how the certification process helped them improve their processes and transitioning their data program from Mayor Landrieu to Mayor Cantrell.

Testing innovative solutions. Adrienne Moretz, Civic Lab Project Manager, and Monica Hernandez, Director of Innovation & Partnerships, joined the podcast to talk about their work for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). They discussed Civic Lab, a program that works with teams from around their region to design and launch pilot projects aimed at regional challenges. In year one they took on "Smart Mobility" and had some innovative approaches to transportation that covered both downtown Sacramento and rural parts of their region. Both guests also shared their career path to local government and their plans for year two of the program. This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

Using new technology for sustainability. Diana Robinson, Energy Manager for Manatee County, FL, discussed how they are using drones to support their work on sustainable buildings, communications and more. Diana shared what it was like setting up a drone program and using different types of cameras. This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

Lessons for recovery after a large-scale trauma. Author and psychologist Melissa Glaser joined the podcast to talk about how a community deals with traumatic events. She shared her experience working in Newtown, CT after the Sandy Hook shooting. She also discussed lessons for community leaders dealing with tragic events.

Community service. Joe Nail the CEO and Co-Founder of Lead for America joined the podcast to talk about their two-year fellowship program for young leaders in local government. The program takes undergraduate students interested in public service and matches them with organizations in their community. Joe shared his background and why he wanted to start this program. He also explained how local governments can participate and what the experience is like for fellows.

Trends in planning. GovLove was recently at the National Planning Conference for a session all about right-of-way. Local governments hold the public right-of-way in trust for the benefit of the public; but rapid changes in technology, federal policy, and constitutional law are increasing demands for services and challenging local regulatory authority. Experienced local government attorneys, and industry professionals discuss best practices for right-of-way management in the face of emerging challenges. Panelists include: Alan Weinstein, Cleveland State University; Alicia Giudice, San Rafael, CA; Brandon Bordenkircher, Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development; Daniel J. Bolin, Ancel Glink; Gail A. Karish, Best Best & Krieger LLP; and Isidro A. Jimenez, San Francisco, CA. This episode was recorded from the 2019 National Planning Conference in San Francisco, CA.

Designing better government. Dan Hon, the Co-Chair for the 2019 Code for America Summit, joined the podcast to talk about the work of Code for America, how he got involved and why technologists should work with governments. Dan also shared some of the agenda they are planning for the conference and tips for attendees.