Brandon Ford rejoins Dave Pribulka and Eden Ratliff and wastes no time stepping back into the role of host. He deftly guides the conversation from how have expectations changed for managers to something much deeper that touches on what it means to be apolitical in this new reality and how compartmentalization may or may not serve the profession going forward.

This is a genuinely important episode for anyone wondering where the profession is headed. What are your thoughts? Leave us your comments and the crew will respond in a future episode.

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“We have to hold the line—apolitical, professional management. Period.” - Brandon

 “Politicization of local government … it’s your ink on that resolution condemning, promoting whatever social issue … and when the board change is over, they know you wrote that.” - Dave

 But with time, you know, each thing you compartmentalize … it’s like a marble, right? If you put one marble in your pocket, that’s not so bad. But if you put a marble in your pocket every day I mean, how is that that box you’re compartmentalizing going to feel in  15, 20, 25, 30, 35 years? - Eden

Chapters

00:00 Sports and Local Engagement

03:56 International City Management Association Insights

09:30 Expectations of Local Government

18:44 The Role of Technology in Local Governance

23:13 Navigating Civic Engagement and Emotional Appeals

25:13 The Complexity of Local Governance

28:35 Engaging the Next Generation of Managers

30:26 The Balance of Politics and Management

32:34 Compartmentalizing Personal Beliefs in Governance

36:34 The Future of Political Neutrality in Local Government

40:18 Maintaining Professional Standards Amidst Political Pressures

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