Podcast: Democracy and City Management with Valerie Lemmie, Charles F. Kettering Foundation

Posted on September 19, 2025


Valerie Lemmie GovLove Widescreen

Valerie Lemmie

Valerie Lemmie
Senior Advisor for State and Local Government
Charles F. Kettering Foundation
LinkedIn | Bio


Valerie Lemmie, Senior Advisor for State and Local Government for the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, joined the podcast to talk about her career in city management and the state of democracy. She shared how she navigated difficult situations during her city management career, including as City Manager of Cincinnati, Ohio when there were protests against the Police Department. She also discussed meaningful citizen engagement and how the profession needs to evolve in our current democracy.

Host: Ben Kittelson

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify RSS Feed


Learn More

ICMA Conference Session – Leading Democratically: Fostering Management Innovation, Advancing Public Trust, and Building Resilient Communities

Rethinking Public Engagement

“What does public service means to us? Offering a new perspective – the pracamunal”

The Effective Local Government Manager, 4th Edition

CivicCon: We can’t have a functioning democracy without working together

Video – Academy Fellow and Former City Manager Valerie Lemmie on Bringing People Together to Rebuild Trust

Kettering Foundation

Close window