Last year, Mountlake Terrace City Manager Jeff Niten and his team launched their citizen academy. It was designed to teach local citizens about how their local government operates, foster an environment of transparency and community engagement, and hopefully create ambassadors who would then be able to share their newfound knowledge with others.

In this episode, Jeff talks about what he and his team learned about their community of 25,000 just north of Seattle and how they tweaked this year's upcoming structure and curriculum. If you have considered starting your own citizen academy you will definitely want to check this episode out.

SHOW NOTES:

Link to Jeff Niten's LinkedIn profile

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To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME 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/

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Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

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Michael Patton is passionate about parks and recreation and he feels like the podcast has ignored this aspect of government operations for too long.

A few weeks back he messaged me and articulated his case for why parks and recreation departments should be seen more as vital components of local government and not just "nice to haves" or afterthoughts in the eyes of the city manager. And speaking of city management, Michael thinks that parks and recreation directors possess a vast array of skills and experiences that should help them be successful city and county managers.

SHOW NOTES:

Link to Michael Patton's LinkedIn profile

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://cmnews.beehiiv.com/

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME 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:

1. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
2. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest tried to beat his alcohol addiction numerous times, but failed repeatedly. In this powerful episode, Matthew "Matt" McManus pulls back the curtains and transparently talks about his journey to sobriety, why he became an alcoholic, and what motivated him to change once and for all.

If you are struggling with some sort of addiction, it is my hope that this episode gives you the motivation to keep fighting and striving to live the life you want to live. You and your loved ones deserve it.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has a page dedicated to finding resources to assist you on your journey to sobriety.

SHOW NOTES:

Links to Matthew McManus' LinkedIn profile and Facebook profile

Link to Matt's "Pension Protectors" podcast

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://cmnews.beehiiv.com/

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME 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:

1. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
2. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Before becoming a city manager, Chris Mann built a career around public affairs, public relations, and political campaign messaging. In this episode, we talk about how important it is for city managers and other public sector executives to cultivate an image or identity that they can use to differentiate themselves during the job search process. By narrating your own story, you will be able to illustrate and articulate how your skills and abilities uniquely position for success.

We also spend time talking about how we both pivoted from the world of politics into the city management profession and walked a very non-traditional path.

SHOW NOTES:

Links to Chris Mann's LinkedIn profile and Gov360 Podcast

Previous interview with Chris:

• Ep. 127: Knowing Your Why & Being Prepared to Execute

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://cmnews.beehiiv.com/

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME 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:

1. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
2. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

We all have some wild and funny stories from our city manager careers. Why? Because we interact with people on a daily basis and people are crazy!

In this episode, Tim Rundel, one of the most popular guests of the show, recounts the insanities and inanities of his city management life spanning stints in California and Oklahoma.

If you have some funny stories, surreal first council meetings, or absolutely incredible first-day on the job stories -- and you want to share them on the podcast -- please get in touch. I would love to feature you on the podcast in either a stand alone episode or in a compilation episode featuring contributions from other managers.

SHOW NOTES:

Tim Rundel's LinkedIn profile

Previous interviews with Tim:

• Ep. 8: City of Weed: A Sitcom About City Manager Life
• Ep. 110: It Just Takes One to Ruin It
• Ep. 111: We Carry the Trauma to Our Next Job

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://cmnews.beehiiv.com/

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME 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:

1. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
2. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My criminal defense attorney, Katie Bogenschutz, sat down with me again to update you all on my case down in Florida. We also discuss various aspects and nuances of a criminal case. This is Part 2 of a two part series so tune back in next week.

You can catch Part 1 here.

If you did not listen to my very first interview with Katie where we broke down the charges filed against me, please go to this link and check out Episode 133 published on November 19, 2025. You can read all court filings by going to this link: https://www.civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/66/disclaimer.xhtml

After checking the disclaimer, type in my first and last name, and then check the "Felony" box.

SHOW NOTES:

Katie Bogenschutz' LinkedIn Profile and website

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://cmnews.beehiiv.com/

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME 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:

1. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
2. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My criminal defense attorney, Katie Bogenschutz, sat down with me again to update you all on my case down in Florida. We also discuss various aspects and nuances of a criminal case. This is Part 1 of a two part series so tune back in next week.

If you did not listen to my first interview with Katie where we broke down the charges filed against me, please go to this link and check out Episode 133 published on November 19, 2025. You can read all court filings by going to this link: https://www.civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/66/disclaimer.xhtml

After checking the disclaimer, type in my first and last name, and then check the "Felony" box.

SHOW NOTES:

Katie Bogenschutz' LinkedIn Profile and website

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://cmnews.beehiiv.com/

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME 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:

1. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
2. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

CAUGHT ON TAPE!

In this episode, we have a recorded phone conversation between a city manager and a state transportation official who was cited on a criminal trespassing charge. The state official repeatedly suggests that he will make things difficult for the city manager and his city if the charge is not taken care of.

Such was the dilemma facing Brian Daily when he was serving as the city manager for a small town in Kansas.

Brian was also a guest on Episode 109 of the podcast where we talked about how he had saved taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars simply by reviewing their property and liability insurance coverage. You can listen to that episode here.

SHOW NOTES

Brian Daily's LinkedIn Profile

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:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

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Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.