Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
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Episode 255 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
When José Madrigal arrived in Durango, Colorado in 2020, he stepped into an organization still recovering from the pandemic, from burnout, and from the aftermath of an internal embezzlement that had shaken public trust to its core.
He didn’t walk in with a new mission statement.
He walked in with two words: effort and intent.
“Those are the only two things you can control,” José said. “If your effort is good and your intent is good, we’ll never have a problem.”
That philosophy became the cornerstone of his leadership and the turning point for a city ready to move forward.
José’s journey wasn’t scripted. Raised in a politically active family in Texas, he thought he’d become a lawyer. Instead, a chance encounter in a graduate class introduced him to city management, and he never looked back.
He cut his teeth in places like Cedar Park, Irving, and McKinney, all fast-growing Texas cities where he learned the realities of public service: managing growth, building teams, and weathering political transition.
Each move taught him something new: how to connect the front line to the executive office, how to lead through crises, and how to make culture a daily practice rather than a slogan.
When José became Durango’s City Manager, the organization needed healing as much as strategy. The pandemic had kept people apart. The financial scandal had left staff demoralized.
Instead of reacting, he listened.
He spent his first 100 days meeting with employees, business owners, and community partners. He didn’t promise quick fixes; he asked questions. And when he did act, every step was tied to what people said they needed most: transparency, communication, and belonging.
That led to a series of small but powerful changes:
Within two years, the city’s internal culture survey saw double-digit increases across nearly every category, surpassing national benchmarks for engagement and trust.
José’s story isn’t just about recovery; it’s about redefining what leadership looks like in local government.
It’s not about controlling outcomes.
It’s about cultivating people.
When leaders focus on effort and intent, they replace fear with ownership, rebuild credibility from the inside out, and remind employees that their work matters.
That’s how culture changes, not through slogans, but through daily behavior.
Episode 255: José Madrigal: Effort and Intent: Two Principles That Redefine Municipal Leadership
Now streaming on The HaltingWinter Podcast.
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Learn more about how Tyler Technologies is helping local governments reimagine budgeting and performance at TylerTech.com/Winter.
The HaltingWinter Podcast celebrates and elevates the people who power local government. Through in-depth conversations with leaders from cities, counties, and communities of all sizes, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and innovations happening in municipal leadership across America.
