Professional local government managers are vital partners for elected officials, such as mayors and city council members. Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of the local government, procure products and services, supervise department heads, and develop the budget. This allows mayors and council members to focus on what they were elected to do—set policy and craft a vision for the community. Managers then translate that policy and those campaign promises into real results.

Appointed by the governing body, managers are nonpartisan and apolitical public servants who bring experience, sound financial stewardship, and proven management practices to every decision made within a community. They work with elected officials to develop innovative approaches to community challenges and align a local government’s administrative systems with the values, mission, and policy goals defined by the community and the elected officials. Managers are trained to deliver services ethically, effectively, and efficiently.

A major goal of the Life, Well Run campaign is to raise awareness among elected officials about the vital role professional local government managers play in building strong communities. The campaign will look to develop partnerships with national and state municipal leagues in order to provide elected officials with resources that help them:

• Understand how having a professional local government manager helps mayors and city council members focus on developing their vision for the community
• Appreciate and make use of the skills and training of their city, county, or town manager
• Identify the qualifications necessary in a successful candidate for manager.

Check out these great videos from the Life, Well Run campaign, and watch elected officials comment on the role and value of the partnerships they’ve forged with their professional managers in San Antonio and Seguin, Texas.

To learn more about how elected officials and managers work together, check out the Life, Well Run website.