The Life, Well Run campaign recently released a new video intended to bridge the awareness gap between constituents and the important role that professional local government managers play in improving quality of life.
In “Why Should You Care? Professional Local Government Managers and Your Community,” elected and civic leaders describe how professional managers help make their local governments efficient, responsive, transparent, and well-run.
The video features civic leaders from Lake County and the villages of Glenview and Woodridge, Illinois (in order of appearance):
- Bill Murphy, mayor, Village of Woodridge
- Mark Zabloudil, vice president of operations, Edward Don and Company
- State Representative Jim Durkin, 82nd District
- Katy Rush, village administrator, Village of Woodridge
- Chuck Lamphere, president and CEO, Van Vlissingen and Co.
- Mike Krucek. former chair, Woodridge Area Chamber of Commerce
- Kerry Cummings, president, Village of Glenview
- Marvin Bembry, pharmaceuticals industry
- Michael Knight, Winchester House Advisory Board
- Paul Detlefs, trustee, Village of Glenview
- Mike Adams, executive director, Woodridge Park District
- Bob Patton, president, Glenview Park District
They make the points that professional managers:
- Work closely with elected officials to translate their vision for the community into reality. The manager is like the CEO of a company: elected officials set the goals and vision for the community and the manager makes it happen.
- Have the professional training and experience to manage staff and budgets, work with boards and councils, and help elected officials assess options so they make the best decisions for their communities.
- Provide stability and continuity regardless of political changes in local governments.
- Put the best interests of the community first and bring all interested groups into decision making.
- Always look for new, innovative, and better ways to do things.
Woodridge, Glenview, and Lake County are three of five pilot communities across the country to be showcased by ICMA in the Life, Well Run campaign.
Learn more about the campaign.
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