Timothy Evans
Dakota County, MN – Local Government Management Fellow
Connect: LinkedIn
1. Describe the current state of local government.
Local government overall is in transition. Depending on the size, location, type (e.g. township, city, county…) and demographics among other variables (e.g. high education opportunities, employment, transportation…) of local government, each transition can look different. Based on the migration from rural to urban and even suburban to urban, communities are seeing an increase or decrease in their populations, which are creating new challenges such as providing adequate services, loss of taxpayer revenue, and city congestion. Coupled with these challenges are the employment concerns of local government to transition from the baby boomer generation to the young generation with different needs and priorities. Furthermore, local governments must compete for the current generation of talented employees who are ambitious, entrepreneurial, and being courted by private and public organizations. How governments respond with these challenges will impact the future role of government for generations to come.
2. During her presidency, Bonnie Svrcek encouraged ICMA members to do “Just One Thing” for the organization. What’s one thing we can do to strengthen local government?
Local governments can provide more opportunities for risk-taking that result in greater innovation. As stewards of the taxpayer’s investments, local government must balance the obligation to deliver efficient and effective services with searching for new innovative methods to improve service offering and impact. In order to strike this balance, local government cannot be overly risk-averse. Innovation and growth cannot happen in a risk-adverse environment, instead over time depending on the level risk-aversion a community can lose value. Therefore, where appropriate, local government should seek to modulate between risk-adverse and a risk-taker, which will create more opportunities for innovation.
3. In keeping with the beer tasting theme, tell us what we’d find in your ideal six pack.
Corona, Blue Moon, Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Alleghash White
Quick Takes
- Michael Cannon, ICMA
- Ron Holifield, Stategic Government Resources
- Greg Stopka, Alliance for Innovation
- Ratna Okhai, University of South Florida MPA
- Pam Weir, City of Sierra Vista
- Wilson Hooper, City of Charlotte, NC
- Charlotte Colley, Village of New Concord, OH
- Haley Kadish, The Novak Consulting Group
- Simeon Switzer, Kent County Department of Veterans Affairs
- Jennifer Frederick, Village of Twin Lakes, WI
- Sarah Hazel, City of Charlotte, NC
- Lauren Brune, UNC-Chapel Hill MPA Program
- Dave Waffle, City of Beaverton, OR
- Pam Brangaccio, New Smyrna Beach, FL
- Tracy Miller, Sarasota County, FL
- Jason Damweber, Town of Chapel Hill, NC
- John Stefanski, City of Hayward, CA
- Karen Pinkos, City of El Cerrito, CA
- Chris Morrill, City of Roanoke, VA
- Matthew Hawkesworth, City of Rosemead, CA
- Heather Geyer, City of Wheat Ridge, CO
- Greg Larson, Town of Los Gatos, CA
- Jeff Towery, City of Springfield, OR
- Elisabeth Wright, Village of Gilberts, IL
- Mitch Foster, Kingsley, MI, Village Manager
- C. James Ervin, Town of Rocky Mount, VA
- Tamara Lynn Schaps, Evans School of Public Affairs
- Eric Norenberg, Oberlin (OH) City Manager
- Joe Casey, Henrico County, VA, Deputy County Manager
- Jason Escareno, San Mateo County, CA
- Ann Janda, Milton, VT
- Lee Worsley, Durham County
- Dan Weinheimer, Fort Collins, CO