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What happens when you grow up in a family where public service runs deep? For Martha Bennett, City Manager of Lake Oswego, Oregon, watching her father’s career in city management wasn’t what initially drew her attention – in fact, she was so determined not to follow in her dad’s accounting footsteps that she almost missed her calling in municipal leadership altogether.
In this week’s episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Martha shares her unique journey from a “city hall kid” to becoming one of Oregon’s most respected municipal leaders. Her story offers invaluable insights for anyone invested in the future of local government leadership.
Growing up as the daughter of a city manager, Martha moved between communities in Oregon and Arizona. This unique childhood gave her an early glimpse into the realities of municipal leadership – from visiting wastewater treatment plants on vacation to listening to discussions about local government around the dinner table. This early exposure provided her with an intimate understanding of not just the job of city management, but the life it entails – knowledge that would prove invaluable in her own career.
Martha’s career path has been anything but conventional. From managing the nation’s only bi-state compact agency (Columbia River Gorge Commission) to leading the country’s only directly-elected regional government (Metro), she’s developed a unique perspective on what makes local government work. Her current role as City Manager of Lake Oswego brings these diverse experiences together in service of a community working to preserve its high quality of life amid growing pressures.
One of the most practical takeaways from our conversation is Martha’s time management framework for effective city leadership:
This simple but powerful framework helps leaders maintain balance while ensuring all key stakeholders receive appropriate attention.
Perhaps most compelling is Martha’s insight into leading effectively in politically diverse communities. “Your water pipes aren’t red or blue,” she notes, emphasizing how focusing on mission-driven service delivery can transcend political divisions and unite communities around common goals.
Whether you’re a seasoned municipal leader, aspiring city manager, or simply interested in how cities work, this conversation offers valuable insights into:
Don’t miss this engaging discussion about the future of municipal leadership. Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform or at HaltingWinter.com/resources. Subscribe and leave a 5-star review to help other city leaders become aware of this inspiring resource.
Ready to take your municipal leadership journey further? Join the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) during our launch week and receive 25% off your annual subscription with code “PODCAST” at checkout.
Seth Winterhalter is President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, dedicated to making stronger cities through stronger leaders. Through executive coaching, results-based consulting, and the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), HaltingWinter helps city managers and municipal leaders transform their leadership impact and their organizational culture.
