Legally Blind, Leading Boldly: Bret Prebula’s Vision for Smarter Government

In a sector that often rewards caution, Bret Prebula is choosing courage. And not just in words, but in action, innovation, and the way he leads his city.

In Episode 182 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Bret—City Manager of Suisun City, California—shares his powerful journey: from leading golf retail stores to managing multimillion-dollar investments in Napa County to now reshaping the culture, speed, and strategic direction of a city in urgent need of reinvention.

Oh, and he’s doing all of it while legally blind.

This episode isn’t about overcoming disability. It’s about redefining leadership—what it looks like, who it includes, and how bold decisions can move entire communities forward.

---

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why playing it safe is costing your city more than you think
  Bret makes the case for shifting our understanding of risk and holding leaders accountable for opportunity cost
• How to build a leadership culture that allows failure without fear
  His mentorship model encourages autonomy, protects integrity, and prepares the next generation of public servants
• How legal blindness gave him leadership clarity
  Bret shares how losing his sight sharpened his sense of urgency, empathy, and purpose
• The real work of rebuilding a stuck city
  In Suisun City, he stepped into a local government that was behind and started asking hard questions, challenging assumptions, and acting fast
• Why “good enough” isn’t good enough anymore
  For Bret, public service must evolve to be faster, smarter, and more responsive—or risk losing public trust entirely

---

Why This Episode Matters for Local Government Leaders

At HaltingWinter, we meet leaders across the country who are doing the best they can with the systems they’ve inherited. But some, like Bret, are saying: What if we built something better?

This episode is an invitation—to think bigger, act bolder, and lead with clarity, not just caution.

---

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.