Have you ever heard the saying, “No city manager was ever fired for lack of competence”? Politics and government go hand in hand, you cannot have a democratic election without political discussions on the current issues of the time. We all see these issues differently based on our viewpoints. Managers typically make decisions based on data and facts while politicians might make decisions based on connections to constituent groups or ideological views.

The differences in how administrators and policymakers interact are even more heightened during an election year. Join us to hear the perspectives of a city/county manager and a council member and learn how ICMA’s Code of Ethics keeps our members on the ethical high ground during a time when our political values are identified with our moral values.  

Topics:

1. Why won’t council listen to you?
2. What ethical challenges come in an election year?
3. These challenges may be new to you, but they have gone on in the profession since ICMA’s inception. How can a new manager successfully survive an election year and what are some key pitfalls to avoid?