Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
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In episode 166 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, host Seth Winterhalter sits down with David Cline, whose extraordinary career in municipal leadership includes surprising encounters with undercover operations and transforming some of Washington state’s most challenged neighborhoods.
When you think of city administration, you might imagine budget meetings and planning commissions. While David Cline certainly handled those duties throughout his distinguished career, his path through municipal leadership took unexpected turns that sound more like scenes from a crime drama than a city hall office.
In this captivating conversation, David shares how his early career included riding along with undercover narcotics officers, wearing flak jackets during raids, and witnessing a 300-officer operation to take down an apartment building overrun with criminal activity. These formative experiences shaped his understanding of community needs and the impact municipal leaders can have on residents’ daily lives.
“If you’re looking for purpose, there is no day that I have to ever go find out if I have purpose working in city and local government,” David explains. “Every day there was purpose-driven work.”
Perhaps most compelling is David’s work as Tukwila’s City Administrator, where he spearheaded bold initiatives to reclaim neighborhoods plagued by criminal activity, including areas once associated with the infamous Green River Killer. His administration’s strategy of purchasing and demolishing crime-ridden hotels transformed dangerous streets into community spaces, bringing safety and new opportunities to overlooked parts of the city.
The podcast explores how David balanced strategic vision with tactical execution throughout his tenure leading Lake Forest Park and Tukwila, creating plans that continued guiding these communities years after his departure.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, David offers candid reflections on the challenges of maintaining work-life balance in demanding municipal roles. After serving as interim city manager early in his career, he made deliberate choices to prioritize family alongside his professional responsibilities, even stepping away temporarily from his career trajectory to move to Bolivia with his young family.
His practical wisdom includes specific strategies for setting boundaries with elected officials, integrating family into community events, and maintaining personal well-being amidst the pressures of public service.
Now serving as an affiliate associate professor at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, David shares insights on mentoring emerging municipal leaders and the critical importance of internship programs for introducing students to careers in local government.
His passionate advocacy for purpose-driven public service reminds listeners that municipal work offers immediate, tangible impact on community life in ways few other professions can match.
Whether you’re a current municipal leader, aspiring to city management, or simply interested in how communities transform, this episode offers rare insights from someone who’s seen local government from every angle—from riding with undercover officers to leading an administration that reclaimed neighborhoods once thought beyond saving.
Listen to Episode 166 with David Cline now
The HaltingWinter Podcast, hosted by Seth Winterhalter, explores municipal leadership through conversations with city managers and administrators across the nation. Through these discussions, along with HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions’ leadership development services, Seth fulfills his mission to build stronger cities through stronger leaders. Learn more at haltingwinter.com.
