As part of the grueling ELGL initiation process, new members are asked to complete our version of the Wonderlic test. It’s an open book test and participants do not have to use a dull number 2 pencil to fill in tiny circles.
Kevin Woodhouse (LinkedIn and Twitter) is the Assistant General Manager for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District in Los Altos, CA. Previously, he served as the Deputy City Manager for the City of Mountain View, CA. Kevin received an MPA from San Francisco State University.
Complete the following sentences.
I feel….therefore I am . . .
I joined ELGL because…..it is a network of motivated, innovative, and committed local government managers I would like to learn from, contribute to, and hang with.
If I was in a talent show I would perform….
drums in a band, ‘cause that’s what I do outside work anyways!
My life will be complete if….I keep on keepin’ on and continue passions outside of my professional career.
You should probably know that I…. am a drummer, soccer player, outdoor enthusiast, and father of two teenage boys.
Do you agree/disagree with the following statement(s)……Explain….
My peer group views local government as a desirable profession.
This depends on the peer group: For my close friends, yes, but they didn’t used to. I have educated them. For my musician friends, no generally not, as many of them don’t have a good sense of the work we do. One great aspect of Facebook is that it is a forum to post interesting items about great local government work, and therefore all of my friends can learn more (I keep Facebook to mainly friends and not professional colleagues).
I plan on spending the rest of my career in local government.
Agree!
Potlucks are a good idea.
Agree, easy on planning (but random mix of food can be tough on the tummy . . .)
City staff should be required to live in the city in which they work.
Disagree, and impossible in the San Francisco Bay Area!
Local governments should have an employee dress code.
Disagree if this means a written code, but clear expectations communicated about professional dress is fine.