Dennis Champine: Built for the Long HaulHow One City Manager Outlasted Politics, Turnover, and Trend-Driven Leadership

Episode 286 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What does it take to last in local government when the average city manager tenure is shrinking and the pressure keeps rising?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Dennis Champine, City Manager of Center Line, Michigan, recently named one of the Top 10 City Managers of 2025. Dennis has served his community for more than a decade, not by chasing headlines or political wins, but by playing the long game.

Dennis' story is anything but traditional. From growing up in a low-income household, to serving in the Marine Corps, to entering formal higher education at age 40, his path into city management was shaped by service, setbacks, and lived experience, not ambition for the title.

In this conversation, Dennis shares what he's learned about endurance in a role designed to wear people down, including:

• Why longevity in city management comes from listening more than persuading

• How he reduced one of the highest tax rates in his county without cutting services

• The power of regional and federal partnerships to create new revenue without burdening residents

• What it really means to remain professionally neutral in an increasingly polarized environment

• How to engage residents when few show up to meetings, but everyone has an opinion

• Why integrity, restraint, and humility matter more than being right or popular

This episode is for city managers, administrators, and senior leaders who are tired of trend-driven leadership and short-term thinking and who want to build something that lasts.

If you've ever wondered how to stay grounded, effective, and human in the middle of political pressure and public scrutiny, this conversation is for you.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

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