I celebrated my 2-year anniversary at the PPMC on June 11, just in time for my last day on June 12. From there, I’m starting a new chapter, taking the helm as City Administrator in Hillsboro, Ks. My time at the PPMC was an excellent experience. I worked with a group of creative professionals truly dedicated to advancing the public good. It was great working with so many diverse organizations, learning about new ideas and ways to approach problems. I’m very thankful for that experience and cannot speak highly enough about the work the PPMC does.
A friend asked me why in the world I would want to jump back into city administration right now with everything going on. There are many reasons why this move makes sense for me personally and professionally, but it really comes down to my need to serve. During our stay-at-home order, I was fortunate to be able to continue my PPMC work from home. Watching the events unfold, I felt like I needed to be out doing more. The drive to serve cannot be ignored, and so I answered the call once more. As for the timing, I’d say there’s never an ideal time, but this moment is more complicated than most.
2020 has been like drinking from a firehose. It’s not even halfway over yet. We could sense it was going to be chaotic at the end of 2019, but nothing could have prepared us for what was to come. Coronavirus killed over 110,000 people and counting. Economic freefall has exposed how unequal our society is and created a higher unemployment rate than the Great Depression. The tragic continued deaths of people of color at the hands of police that have resulted in peaceful Black Lives Matter protests are rightfully demanding systemic solutions for systemic racism. The backlash to those protests includes threats to use the military to restore “law and order.” Acidic political rhetoric has eroded public trust and ratcheted up the division, anxiety and tension in our country. It seems like our country is pitching back and forth, from one existential crisis to the next, hitting at the foundational elements that we have long taken for granted.
The moment is unprecedented, but even that word doesn’t feel adequate to wrap around everything that’s going on. It is a perfect storm of issues, any one of which would be challenging enough alone. Taken together, the challenges look daunting and completely overwhelming. Maybe it’s not the best timing to be in local government because it will likely be given the lion’s share of the work to move forward. However, that’s probably a good thing because the local level is much more engaged and connected to the communities we serve. It will be hard work for sure, but we’re used to it. Maybe I’m strange, but I’m energized by the opportunity to serve in this moment. It feels like the world needs leadership, and I believe that local government officials and professionals will take the lead.
This moment calls all public servants to action. Local governments’ public servants are the best around because of their commitment to the communities they serve. The PPMC is also committed to the public good and supports all those public servants willing to serve. From that perspective, this is not a difficult transition for me. This chaotic year may only be half over, but I know that local government professionals will rise to the challenges and make the tough choices when needed. It’s not just what we do, it’s who we are.