In discussing the future of the international local government management profession, I take the position that this profession be viewed as important in securing well-functioning democracies worldwide. When the council manager system was established in the early 1900s in the United States, it was very much in response to widespread (local) political corruption. Today, political elites and political professionalization are terms that are often used to describe a local government management challenge worldwide.

Management Associations Worldwide

Looking at the management profession worldwide, some countries have weak or no associations at all. Other countries have national, as well as regional associations. Leading examples are Canada, USA, and Australia. While ICMA is the older (1914) and stronger, I am equally impressed with Canadian provincial associations. Good examples are Local Government Management Association of British Columbia, Canada (LGMA BC, 1919) and Rural Municipal Administrators' Association of Saskatchewan (RMAA, 1921). On the international arena, ICMA (USA) and UDiTE (European Union) are examples of efforts to connect and assist local management across borders.

Held against criteria like international membership, scope, and presence, however, no associations appear as true international management associations. In my logic, this is a problem for the profession, internationally, and as a consequence, in many countries.

Building an International City Management Network

The city manager (“TCM”) was started as an international networking group on LinkedIn in April 2012, aiming to connect and strengthen the international management profession and community. As of October 1, 2013, the group had 1,830 managers from Australia (63), Belgium (32), Canada (162), Chile (1), China (1), Colombia (1), Denmark (33), England (25), Finland (1), France (2), Ireland (4), Italy (29), Iran (1), Japan (1), Jordan (1), Mozambique (1), Netherlands (95), New Zealand (7), Northern Ireland (1), Norway (20), Papua New Guinea (2), Philippines (2), Romania (2), Scotland (1), Serbia (1), Slovakia (1), South Africa (14), Spain (8), Sweden (41), Switzerland (1), Uganda (0), USA (1,282), Wales (2), and Zimbabwe (1). As of May 1, 2014, the total members were 2,250.

In Memory of Denis Egwel

Denis Egwel was a member of TCM, representing Uganda. Starting in his job as chief township officer and town clerk in the summer of 2012, Denis and his municipality had lots of challenges. A result of a federal reform, his community was transformed from town council to a municipality.

No federal money, however, followed increased responsibilities, and with limited local funding possibilities, times were hard. Another challenge he was concerned about was the huge number of traffic deaths related to “Boda” (motorbike) taxi accidents.

In early 2013, Denis and I wrote to each other about the city management profession and further work through TCM. He described the work as a “noble cause” and that he was “looking forward to work to push the management profession to another level.” Denis was a bright, internationally-oriented person, who in 2009–10 studied for his master’s in urban management and development at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

On July 16, 2013, at the age of 37, Denis tragically died in a traffic accident, on the way to his home. He was a passenger on a boda, when run down by an oncoming car.

I hope that somewhere down the road, we will see a stronger CM profession, worldwide as well as in Uganda—a caretaker of democracy and working for better living conditions of people and communities—just like Denis was working so hard as chief township officer.

Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future

This year, ICMA is celebrating its 100th anniversary. As a member of ICMA’s International Committee, I have looked forward to the celebration of this anniversary. I have gained much insight and inspiration from ICMA, and I praise the great history and results of the past.

At the same time, I look forward to the future. Just like U.S. managers are visible and proactive in the TCM group, ICMA is no doubt the most visible association worldwide.

In order to strengthen the international city management profession, however, we may need a shift of scope toward an international platform, from where the international management community can relate—on equal terms, to mutual goals. This calls for leadership, and I can think of no one more appropriate to fill this role than ICMA and committed, internationally-oriented managers.

Editor’s Note: Stormark was president of the Norwegian City Management Association (NCMA), 1995–1997. As president of NCMA, he signed an affiliate agreement with ICMA in Vancouver, Canada, in 1997.