Some shocking details concerning La Marque Councilman Joseph Lowry surfaced this week. Hayley Winkelmann is leading the effort to recall the controversial official and she shared some court records with the podcast.

On July 24th, Lowry's ex-wife obtained a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order in the State of Washington. The court found her claims credible and they are horrific. Additionally, Winkelmann located official documents indicating that Lowry may be ineligible to hold office because he has multiple felony convictions.

You can find links to these documents in the show notes below.

SHOW NOTES

Link to Hayley Winkelmann's Facebook Page

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.

Authorities arrested the former city manager for La Marque, Texas on Saturday. A warrant for the arrest of J.B. Pritchett had been issued about a week prior on charges related to felony arson and tampering with evidence and misdemeanor charges related to allegedly lying about his education and military service on his job applications and resume.

In this episode, i45Now reporter T.J. Aulds discusses what he has found during his investigative reporting on the matter, including an examination of Pritchett's resumes and applications, as well as a detailed breakdown of the probable cause affidavits submitted by authorities. 

Pritchett has been released on a $90,000 bond and is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

SHOW NOTES

TJ Aulds' LinkedIn Profile

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.

This week a warrant was issued for the arrest of former La Marque city manager, J.B. Pritchett. He is facing five charges, of which two are felonies.

How in the hell did we get here?

To an outsider, the small Texas town of La Marque seems like a chaotic, toxic mess. Many people point their fingers at a councilman by the name of Joseph Lowry who has a brash, combative, and in your face style that rubs many the wrong way. Originally from the state of Washington where he served time in prison for distribution of methamphetamines, and fancies himself a "citizen journalist."

He filed a complaint with his police department about Pritchett, accusing him of lying on his application about his education and military service.

In this episode, i45Now reporter T.J. Aulds breaks down the backstory and Lowry's history. Next week, we will delve into the specific issues surrounding the charges facing Pritchett.

SHOW NOTES

TJ Aulds' LinkedIn Profile

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.

In this episode, I share a personal update about my legal matters and mental health. I also tease the release of my new book called: The City Manager's Guide to Contract Negotiations.

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.

Former Sacramento Councilman Jeff Harris returns to the show to discuss the challenges facing the next city manager. Harris served on the council from 2014-2022 and writes regular columns about the machinations of City Hall.

In Part 1, he defended the record of former city manager, Howard Chan. This week, we take a deep dive into the organization itself to give prospective candidates and curious onlookers the inside scoop.

SHOW NOTES

Jeff Harris' LinkedIn Profile

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.

Got a unique episode this week. Former Sacramento Councilman Jeff Harris comes on the show to defend his former city manager, Howard Chan. Harris served on the council from 2014-2022 and was on the council when Chan was selected to lead their community. He knows the ins-and-outs of Sacramento politics and the truth behind the motives and machinations of the key players. Most importantly, he knows Chan's record and his accomplishments.

Over the last two years or so, Howard has been savagely attacked and denigrated by members of his governing body and columnists at the Sacramento Bee. Though I have made some impassioned statements Howard's defense, most notable in Episode 106, I am admittedly biased.

Jeff sat down with me to clear up the record when it comes to all the smears and dishonest attacks leveled against Howard. Do not miss this one!

SHOW NOTES

Jeff Harris' LinkedIn Profile

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.

We continue our conversation with the always entertaining Tim Rundel in this second installment.

Tim has not just seen a thing or two, he has personally endured some incredibly challenging and professionally traumatic situations. In this powerful episode, he talks about how we as city managers carry the trauma of abuse and betrayal to our next position and that it is quite easy to become "gun shy" or lose your self-confidence.

He opens the interview by recounting a conversation with a peer who has recently experienced a couple of brutal and extremely short tenures. And toward the end of the conversation Tim talks about how we as executives need to value ourselves and appreciate our worth. He says "we're the cookie" and we should not be giving it away.

If you did not get a chance to catch my first interview with Tim way back in Episode 8 of the podcast, it is a must listen. It is one of the funniest interviews I have ever done and in it we talk about his efforts to get a sitcom about a small town city manager made a la The Office Space. You can check that out here: https://www.citymanagerunfiltered.com/e/city-of-weed-sitcom-about-city-manager-life-tim-rundel-ep-08/

SHOW NOTES

Tim Rundel's LinkedIn Profile

Links to Tim's Documentaries:

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.

One new council member can turn everything on its head and send you heading for the exits when you are a city manager. Tim Rundel, the former city manager for the City of Weed, recounts his experience with this elected official who also happened to be married to one of his employees. 

We talk about the importance of building relationships with your governing body, how elected officials need to police themselves and call out bad behavior in the name of defending their city manager, and how city attorneys are not your friend.

This is part one of a two part series. 

If you did not get a chance to catch my first interview with Tim way back in Episode 8 of the podcast, it is a must listen. It is one of the funniest interviews I have ever done and in it we talk about his efforts to get a sitcom about a small town city manager made a la The Office Space. You can check that out here: https://www.citymanagerunfiltered.com/e/city-of-weed-sitcom-about-city-manager-life-tim-rundel-ep-08/

SHOW NOTES

Tim Rundel's LinkedIn Profile

Links to Tim's Documentaries:

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.

Brian Daily was the first person I ever hired as a city manager and it was one of the most impactful decisions I have ever made in my professional career. He is an amazing, inquisitive public servant who continually seeks to provide value to taxpayers. He is insanely curious and truly embodies the ethos of a "working executive" who is not afraid to roll his sleeves up and do the heavy lifting required of a small town executive. 

In this episode, we talk about three major areas of accomplishment as the city administrator for the Kansas community of Medicine Lodge. 

Daily is a rising star and you are going to enjoy this episode.

SHOW NOTES

Brian Daily's LinkedIn Profile

AAME Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.

Picture this scenario. Staff have worked for a year to bring a project or initiative to the finish line. There have been public meetings and notices, multiple discussions at council meetings, and even some news articles published in the local paper. 

Out of the blue, a handful of vocal social media commenters start lighting up the city's social media page and local news groups are atwitter as these critics misrepresent the facts of the project and attack the council for not being transparent and seeking feedback from residents. This results in a dozen or more residents attending the next council meeting with four of them attacking the council and staff under the guise of simply seeking transparency.

Then the council, caught off guard and reeling from the "onslaught" of public comment decide to table or postpone the issue. Then they direct the city manager and staff to re-engage the public and seek feedback. 

It's demoralizing and time consuming. It sucks the life out of employees. 

Sam Toles of CiviSocial joins me on the program to talk about a future initiative aimed at educating and training elected officials about social media, how to interpret criticism, and how to raise these concerns with staff in a healthy and constructive manner. If you are interested in learning more, please fill out this brief survey so we can get your feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBe7LOFFXi2C_ezW4haJJqU-iPk7_n61sgKelfnLQDDgMK1w/viewform

SHOW NOTES

Claim your FREE copy of "The Social Media Playbook for City & County Managers" at this link: https://civisocial.com/the-social-media-playbook

Sam Toles' LinkedIn profile

Link to CiviSocial website

Sam previously appeared on the following episodes:

Episode 67: Your City is Doing Social Media Wrong

Episode 68: Keyboard Warriors & Social Media Terrorists

AAME Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

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.