Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
Every week, you’ll get insights and actionable steps to help you navigate personal growth and professional success.
Episode 227 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity
When you hear “Medina, Washington,” you might picture manicured waterfront estates, private security gates, and neighbors named Gates or Bezos. From the outside, it looks like a city flush with wealth. But as veteran city manager Doug Schulze shares in this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, the reality is far more complicated: a city filled with billionaires can still struggle to pay its bills.
Doug has spent more than 30 years in city management spanning the small-town streets of Sandstone, Minnesota, to the affluent enclaves of Medina, WA, to the challenging realities of Banning, CA. His journey offers a candid look at the myths, challenges, and lessons that define municipal leadership.
Doug’s career began in the trenches—literally. As his first position as city administrator in Sandstone, MN, he wore every hat: driving the Zamboni at the ice rink, fueling planes at the airport, and picking up rocks at a golf course redevelopment project. Those “battle scars” taught him what every city manager eventually learns: the weight always falls on your shoulders.
“As a city administrator in a small town you get the generalist experience quick—it’s like a fire hose.” — Doug Schulze
The move to Medina, WA should have been a dream job. Instead, it highlighted a reality every city manager understands: residents’ wealth doesn’t equal city revenues. Despite billionaires living next door, Medina faced persistent budget shortfalls and hard choices about essential services.
“You’d think with billionaires living here the city would be flush with cash. Instead, we had constant budget shortfalls.” — Doug Schulze
It’s a striking reminder that municipal budgets are driven by property tax structures, state limitations, and service demands, not by the size of residents’ bank accounts.
Doug’s later years in California brought him to Banning, a city along the I-10 corridor between Los Angeles and Palm Springs. There, the challenges weren’t gated estates; they were economic stagnation, state restrictions, and the pandemic.
Ultimately, Doug made a choice many leaders wrestle with: do you go along with a vision you know is not in the best interest of the city, or step away?
“There comes a point when you realize: I can’t sleep at night going along with a direction that takes the city backward.” — Doug Schulze
It cost him his job, but as he reflects, integrity and the long-term health of a city must outweigh personal comfort.
Doug’s story underscores several truths that resonate across local government:
Episode 227: Rich Residents, Poor Revenues
We’re also proud to be sponsored by Tyler Technologies, a leader in empowering the public sector with software solutions that connect data, streamline operations, and improve service delivery. From civic services to public safety, Tyler helps local governments build stronger, more resilient communities. Learn more at tylertech.com →
This episode is brought to you by Zencity, the community engagement platform that helps public sector leaders hear from all residents—not just the “same ten people.” Their AI-powered tools make it easier to understand what your community really needs and to act on it with confidence. Schedule a demo at zencity.io →
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.
