Why Local Government Breaks Your Heart...And Why We Keep Coming Back | Ep.28

Local government can break your heart.

Not because the work lacks meaning, but because it matters so deeply.

The people who choose careers in public service often carry enormous responsibility for their communities, organizations, employees, and democratic institutions. They celebrate victories that may never be noticed, absorb criticism few people fully understand, and confront problems that may never be completely solved.

And yet, they keep coming back.

In Episode 28 of Gov360, City Manager Chris Mann sits down with former San Rafael City Manager Jim Schutz to explore the emotional realities of local government leadership through one of the profession’s most unexpected lenses: poetry.

Jim’s book, The Mayor Has a Hammer, is a collection of poems inspired by more than thirty years in local government. But this conversation is about far more than poetry. It is about the people behind the budgets, ordinances, council meetings, infrastructure projects, and public controversies.

It is about why the work hurts...and why it remains worth doing.

This episode explores:

✅ Why local government leaders struggle to acknowledge the emotional toll of the profession✅ The three “lions” every city manager must care for: the council, staff, and community✅ Why council chambers can feel like sacred spaces for democracy✅ The cumulative effect of crises, criticism, polarization, and constant public scrutiny✅ Why admitting that leadership hurts can feel like admitting weakness✅ The complicated truth behind “Run the city like a business”✅ What separates exceptional elected officials from ineffective ones✅ Why city managers must intentionally build joy into their careers✅ How retirement can challenge a public servant’s identity✅ Why local government breaks your heart, and why we keep coming back

📺 Watch Episode 28 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e865oDBGHok

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