James Freed sent a polite, professional letter to the ICMA ethics director in 2018. Little did he know that that letter would haunt him for the next five years as rogue staff members from the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) would wage a campaign to ruin his career, destroy his professional reputation, and deprive him of his ability to feed for his wife and children.
 
Freed noticed that Martha Perego, the ICMA ethics guru, used the organization's twitter handle @ICMAethics to engage in anti-Republican and anti-conservative political activity. He simply asked her to change her handle or to refrain from such activity.
 
Freed, an ICMA member since he was in college, cherished the organization and valued its mission statement which prohibited partisan political activity -- something Perego, the "ethics guru", knew all too well.
 
The retaliation was immediate and sustained. Eventually, Perego and her subordinate, Jessica Cowles, would manufacture a case against him ultimately leading to his public censure and the stripping of his certified manager credential. 
 
He fought back and filed an anti-defamation lawsuit.
 
This is his shocking story.
 
SHOW NOTES:
 
James Freed Letter to Martha Perego
ICMA CEO Marc Ott letter to Freed Announcing Discipline of Perego
Port Huron City Council Letter Rebuking the ICMA
James Freed Response to ICMA Censure
James Freed Lawsuit Filing
 
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We discuss the different types of betrayal former Hallandale Beach city manager Daniel Rosemond encountered throughout his ordeal in this third and final installment of our interview series.
 
We talk about the following:
Self-betrayal by way of our own self-delusions about our relationship and standing with our organizations as city managers
Betrayal by community leaders, friends, and colleagues
Betrayal by members of the governing body
Betrayal by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and other state and local professional associations
 
You will learn that the Florida League of Cities, an organization that prides itself on supporting good governance, has joined forces with Hallandale Beach and supporting its appeal of Daniel Rosemond's court awarded judgment for wrongful termination. See a copy of their amicus curiae brief below.
You will learn that there are conflicts of interest that exist between state municipal leagues and state-ICMA chapters -- and guess what -- the city managers are coming out on the losing end.
 
And you will learn that when Rosemond reached out to the ICMA in his time of need, the organization ghosted him and never responded to him.
 
SHOW NOTES:
 
Daniel Rosemond is the author of "Death of the Public Servant" and CEO of the East to West Development Corporation. You are invited to reach out and contact him for professional advice and consultation on affordable housing initiatives and to support him by purchasing his book.
 
Florida League of Cities Amicus Curiae Brief
 
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Gabe Reaume, a 20-something aspiring city manager harassed by tweakers stealing his laundry moves in with Joan, his best friend's 80-something grandmother. This unlikely duo form a deep bond that would shape and influence him as he became a husband, father, and eventually a city manager.
 
Reaume recounts this friendship in his book "Strangers & Angels" and documents his rise from Michigan farm boy to become the city manager for Saginaw, Texas, a rapidly growing city of about 25,000 in the burgeoning Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex.
 
In this memoir filled with beautiful angels and kind strangers, Reaume courageously pulls back the curtains on his frailties and shortcomings. We join him on his journey, observe his metamorphosis, and fully immerse ourselves in the colorful tapestry of amazing characters who have influenced him. They helped shaped his infectiously positive outlook on life and love for his fellow man which ultimately serves as the foundational bedrock of his committment to public service.
 
But, it always comes back to Joan, the amazingly beautiful woman who loved to live, even though life could be very painful. We learn how she reinvents herself after tragedy strikes through the eyes of a young Gabe who is simply trying to find himself as he fully enters adulthood. As we recount the life of Joan and meander through the pages of "Strangers and Angels", the seasoned veteran of city management imparts his pearls of wisdom to those aspiring to become city managers much like she imparted her priceless lessons on living and loving to Gabe -- no doubt adorned in pearls.
 
SHOW NOTES:
 
Please consider supporting a fellow public sector executive and purchasing Gabe Reaume's book from this Amazon link: Strangers & Angels: Finding Family in Unexpected Places
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Micah Guadet has created the first and only comprehensive course specifically designed to teach public sector professionals how to use ChatGPT to add value to their organization. 
"Unlocking ChatGPT for the Public Sector" is designed to take someone with absolutely zero experience and help them become a subject matter expert on ChatGPT within their organization in just a few weekends. 
Do you want to be the "go to" ChatGPT expert in your organization?
Do you want to use this powerful technology to stand out and become an indispensible asset?
Do you want absolutely crush it and populate your resume with real results and achievements?
Then "level up" and purchase this course that comes with more than 5 hours of video instructions from Micah. When you complete the course, Micah will also send you a certificate of completion so you can add your ChatGPT proficiency to your resume.
Do not miss this opportunity to add some rocket fuel to your career trajectory. It is an absolute "no-brainer" and you would be foolish to pass on this opportunity.
Don't forget to enter "CMU" as the promo code at check-out to save $50.
There are only a few "game changer" moments in your professional career. This is one of them. You have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Don't blow it!
Enroll in this first-of-its-kind course to position yourself and your community at the forefront of AI in the public sector. You won't just learn; you'll become a pioneer in ethical AI integration.
Acquire specialized ChatGPT skills and join a cohort shaping the future of public sector communication.
By joining, you'll not only upskill but also empower your community in the evolving landscape of public administration.
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:
Hands-on Government Applications
Tailor ChatGPT for government use cases to drive innovation within your organization
Ethics and Integration:
Learn how to integrate AI technologies while upholding ethical considerations and privacy standards
Flexible Learning
The course is self-paced, allowing you to enroll now and complete it on your schedule
No prior experience required
Go from zero to hero and learn how to unlock generative AI for the public sector
SHOW NOTES:
"Unlocking ChatGPT for the Public Sector" by Micah GuadetPromo Code: CMU (save $50)
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
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On August 11, City of Marion police officers and Marion County deputies raided the office of the Marion County Record newspaper; the home of its co-owners, Eric Meyer and his 98 year old mother, Joan Meyer; and the home of Marion vice mayor Ruth Herbel, 80.
Joan passed away the following day with many attributing her death to the stress of the raid.
The unprecedented raid sent shockwaves throughout the journalism community and generated international headlines for the small town of just 2,000 people.
In this episode with Eric Meyer, we dissect the events that transpired, examine the players and possible motivations behind the raid, and discuss whether he will file lawsuit(s) against the city over the illegal raid and death of his mother.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Kari Newell, Restaurant Owner
Owner of Chef's Table restaurant, previously owned by Tammy Ensey 
Currently using Tammy Ensey's liquor license which expired on August 28th
Convicted of 2008 DUI
Been driving without a license for last 14+ years
City of Marion Police Department is alleged to have known this
Newell is in the process of seeking a liquor license and obtaining support from the Marion City Council
Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody
Veteran police officer with KCMO - about 24 years
Was earning $115,000, but left to become the police chief in Marion for $60,000
Never served as a police chief before
Hired in May 2023
Alleged to dislike Eric Meyer and the Marion County Record
Marion City Administrator Brogan Jones
First-time city administrator who recently graduated with an MPA from Wichita State University
Does not have the power to hire/fire/suspend police chief
Marion Mayor David Mayfield
Alleged to dislike Eric Meyer and Marion County Record
Marion Vice-Mayor Ruth Herbel
Alleged to be an ally/supporter of Eric Meyer and the Marion County Record
Marion County Attorney Joel Ensey
Tammy Ensey's brother-in-law
Unknown if he saw probable cause affidavit before Judge Viar signed off on the search warrant
Judge Laura Viar
Marion County Record Publisher/Co-owner Eric Meyer
Marion County Record Report Phyllis Zorn
Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mattivi
Pam Maag - Kari Newell's ex-friend who tipped off the newspaper
Known to have provided documents to Marion County Record regarding Kari Newell's driving record and this was confirmed in probable cause affidavit written by Chief Gideon Cody
Was never interviewed before the search warrant nor was a search warrant apparently requested for her home
 
 
SHOW NOTES:
Probable Cause Affidavit
 
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This is Part 2 of my interview series with Daniel Rosemond, the former city manager for the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida. In this episode, we walk through his quest for justice on his way to winning a $4.4 million verdict from a jury.
We examine the challenges of finding legal representation, how the legal system works, and get into the nitty-gritty of lawsuits, settlements, and financial aspects of paying taxes and attorneys who work on a contingency basis.
Rosemond takes us down a road that most city managers will never travel. Don't miss it and don't forget to catch Part 3 which will be released in September.
Part 1: Death of the Public Servant
Part 2: Revenge of the Public Servant
Part 3: Betrayal of the Public Servant
 
SHOW NOTES:
Daniel Rosemond is the author of "Death of the Public Servant" and CEO of the East to West Development Corporation. You are invited to reach out and contact him for professional advice and consultation on affordable housing initiatives and to support him by purchasing his book.
 
SUPPORT THE SHOW:
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Topeka City Manager Stephen Wade's battle with depression and mental illness came to a head in June when he attempted suicide. Wade was a "hometown" boy done good and was only about 10 months into his tenure as city manager. After being placed on indefinite leave with pay, he would be shockingly terminated for cause about a month later. 
 
In the aftermath of his dismissal, Wade opted to courageously share his mental health struggles publicly by granting an interview with the Topeka Capital-Journal. After reading that article I contacted Stephen and invited him to be a guest on the show, which he graciously agreed to do.
 
This episode features a raw, intimate, and unfiltered look at mental health, suicide, and the extreme stress and pressures city managers must endure as they lead a city and attempt to keep multiple bosses (e.g., elected officials) and stakeholder groups happy.
 
SHOW NOTES:During the interview, Stephen cited two sources of help that may be of value to you. This includes:The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino, and
Damon Parker and "The Jones Project"
 
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:If you like the show and enjoy the content, please take a moment to leave a rating AND a review on Apple or your preferred platform. It really does mean a lot to me and gives me a lot of motivation to continue producing content for the podcast. It is a lot of work and very time consuming. Thank you!

Daniel Rosemond suffered a horrific, career-killing termination as city manager for Hallandale Beach, Florida back in 2016. It ruined his reputation, ended his career, and forever altered his view of public service -- to say nothing of the horrendous impact it has had on him and his family psychologically, emotionally, and financially.
In 2022, he was vindicated in court when a jury awarded him a $4.4 million dollar judgment after only deliberating for about an hour. But Rosemond's saga was not over. Hallandale Beach has appealed the judgment and Rosemond's journey now stretches 7 years.
In this 3-part series, we talk about the:
Death of the Public Servant,
Revenge of the Public Servant, and
Betrayal of the Public Servant
Rosemond has walked a path that most city managers will never endure, thankfully. Do not miss this special interview series. If you are like me, you will be enjoy a rollercoaster ride of emotions consisting of shock, sadness, disgust, and seething, righteous anger.
 
SHOW NOTES:
Daniel Rosemond is the author of "Death of the Public Servant" and CEO of the East to West Development Corporation. You are invited to reach out and contact him for professional advice and consultation on affordable housing initiatives and to support him by purchasing his book.
 
SUPPORT THE SHOW:
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page