A Career in Local
Government:
Is It Still “Worth It”?
Kevin C. Duggan
ICMA West Coast Regional Director
“Gloom and Doom?”
Labor Strife/Conflict
Public Distrust/”Tea Party”
Public Pension
Controversy
More Demands/Fewer
Resources
Budget Cutting
Service Reductions
Layoffs
“The Great Recession”
“The New Normal”
Fewer Entry and Promotional
Opportunities
YES, BUT………
Does “Misery Love
Company”?
“Government is Not
Optional”
If it Really is the “New
Normal” it will eventually
become “Normal”
The Value of Meaning
and Purpose
Feelings of Meaning and
Social Connection Undergird
Happiness—
Michael Norton: Harvard
Researcher on The Psychology
of Happiness
Public Service Provides a Clear
Connection Between an Individuals
contribution and a Public Benefit
Bob O’Neill: The Coming Decade in
Local Government
• Local Governments are Consistently Rated
Most Favorably by Citizens.
• Despite Anti-Tax Rhetoric—Nearly 70% of
Local Initiatives Approved.
• Most People Want to Live In A Quality
Community With Great Services.
• Easier to Communicate to Constituents
What They are Paying For.
• Easier to Engage Citizens/Taxpayers in
Priority Setting
Some Suggestions:
“Connect the Dots”
Between Your Work
and the Work of Your
Organization and the
Quality of Life in Your
Community
• Know Your Story
• Believe Your Story
• Tell Your Story
Know Your Audiences and Consistently
Tell Your Organization’s Story
Communicate to Every Employee Their
Role in Communicating the Meaning and
Value of the Work of the Organization
Adam Davis: DHM Research--Portland
• Show Openness to Change/Reform
• Demonstrate Your Ability to Respond to
Community Priorities
• Making Friends One Customer at a Time
• “Tell Stories” of How Your Government is
Improving the Community/Citizens Lives
• Demonstrate Accountability and
Transparency
Some Personal Coping
Strategies
Keep EVERYTHING in
Perspective
Take Career Risks (But For
the Right Reasons)
It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Maintain Balance:
Attitude; Time; Life
“We can’t always control what
happens to us, but we do control
how we respond”
It’s Only “Business”, Don’t
Take It Personally (or make
it personal)
”SOMETIMES LIFE HITS YOU IN THE HEAD
WITH A BRICK. DON’T LOSE FAITH. I’M
CONVINCED THAT THE ONLY THING THAT
KEPT ME GOING WAS THAT I LOVED WHAT
I DID. YOU’VE GOT TO FIND WHAT YOU
LOVE…..YOUR WORK IS GOING TO FILL A
LARGE PART OF YOUR LIFE, AND THE ONLY
WAY TO BE TRULY SATISFIED IS TO DO
WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS GREAT WORK. AND
THE ONLY WAY TO DO GREAT WORK IS TO
LOVE WHAT YOU DO. IF YOU HAVEN’T
FOUND IT YET, KEEP LOOKING. DON’T
SETTLE.”
“Showing Up is 90% of
Success”
“LIFE, WELL RUN”
ICMA’s Campaign to Explain and
Promote the Value of
Professional Local Government
Management