Show Notes: Ed Barrett - No Magic Wand: What It Really Takes to Revive a City

Episode 215 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity

Overview

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ed Barrett—retired City Manager of Bangor and Lewiston, Maine—for a masterclass in what long-term, community-centered leadership really looks like. From his early days auditing performance metrics in Tucson to a 22-year tenure leading a full-scale downtown and riverfront revitalization in Bangor, Ed shares hard-won insights that challenge the myth of quick fixes and flashy solutions.

There’s no magic wand in municipal leadership, but there is a path—if you're willing to commit to vision, process, and the slow, steady work of building something that lasts.

Whether you're a city manager, public works director, or rising department leader, this conversation will re-anchor you in the purpose of the profession and the practical courage it requires.

Episode Highlights:

"Your job isn’t to tell people what to do—it’s to help them get it done." Ed reflects on his early leadership philosophy, shaped by firsthand observations of poor management and morale in Tucson's public works departments.

Leadership Isn’t a Promotion—It’s a Profession Why the jump from “skilled doer” to “effective leader” is a bigger leap than most cities realize and how mentorship can bridge the gap.

Strategic Patience and Political Courage How Bangor turned down short-term development wins—including a supermarket on prime waterfront land—in favor of long-term community transformation.

The Power of Tenure Ed shares why staying 20+ years in one city allowed him to see the fruit of projects that would have died with a 3-year turnover.

Build the Place, Not Just the Economy From trails and parks to libraries and housing, Ed explains why community development is economic development.

Revitalization Without Bulldozers How Bangor repurposed its vacant department stores into a children’s museum, assisted living center, and University art museum—sparking a full downtown revival.

Why Strategic Plans Fail—And How to Make Them Work Ed unpacks why most strategic plans sit on a shelf and how to actually turn them into the spine of decision-making and development.

Connect with Ed Barrett

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ed-barrett

About Our Sponsor: Zencity

This episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast is made possible by Zencity—a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments around the world.

Zencity is a software that enables local government leaders to gather, understand, and act on resident feedback, going beyond the "same ten people" to actually reach residents where they're at, and incorporate that feedback into decisions large and small. To learn more about how Zencity is helping turn data into action and insight into impact:

Learn more at Zencity.io

Connect with Seth Winterhalter:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions

At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Municipal Leadership. 

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

Seth's Upcoming Keynotes:

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference & Expo September 23-26 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

ELGL 2025 Conference | Camp Govlife October 1-3 | Santa Rose, CA Details at ELGL

2025 City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar November 12-14 | Los Angeles, CA Details at CalCities

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 3-5 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA