Farm Boy. Fiction Writer. City Manager: Why Gabe Reaume’s Unconventional Path Is Exactly What Local Government Needs

In Episode 199 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, we sit down with Gabe Reaume, City Manager of Saginaw, Texas—a leader whose story reminds us that purpose doesn’t follow a straight line.

Before city council meetings and capital improvement plans, Gabe was baling hay on a Michigan dairy farm. He was supposed to be a math teacher—until a pack of second-grade girls ruthlessly roasted him during a classroom observation. (Yes, he tells the story—and yes, it’s worth hearing.)

From there, things get more interesting:
• Raised on rural grit, he left home with no car, no job, and no clear path but hustled his way into a career by volunteering, showing up early, and staying late.
• He spent four years living with his best friend’s grandmother, an experience so moving, it inspired his first book.
• He’s now the author of both a memoir and a novel, proof that creativity and public service don’t have to live in separate worlds.

But this episode isn’t just about Gabe’s path—it’s about what leadership looks like when it’s grounded in humility, service, and persistence.

We talk about the real challenges facing city management today:

• The growing talent gap as seasoned leaders retire
• Why fewer MPA students are pursuing the city manager track
• How public service leaders must find outlets to stay human and whole

And we also talk about what still makes this work worth doing.

“Public service is noble work—and it has to be done.”
— Gabe Reaume

If you’re a city manager, MPA student, or local government leader who’s ever questioned whether your path qualifies you to lead, this episode is for you.

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.