Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
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Episode 258 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
Some leaders plan every move. Others stumble into their calling through a series of detours that somehow make perfect sense in hindsight.
Micah Gaudet belongs to the second group.
Now the Deputy City Manager of Maricopa, Arizona, Micah never set out to work in local government. His path ran through military intelligence, state emergency management, and county public safety. Yet each step—though unplanned—prepared him for the exact kind of leadership cities need today: grounded, self-aware, and purpose-driven.
Micah jokes that he “accidentally” earned an MPA. He simply added two extra courses at Johns Hopkins to complete a degree he didn’t even know existed—public management.
But that accidental decision opened every door that followed.
When he eventually became a city manager in Miami, Arizona, he was tested immediately. A controversial council meeting. A wildfire that threatened to wipe out the town. Floods that buried neighborhoods in mud.
Each challenge exposed not just organizational gaps but cultural ones.
Instead of deflecting blame, Micah looked inward.
He realized that, like many leaders, he’d been trying to please people instead of leading them.
That turning point reshaped his leadership philosophy.
“You can’t serve people well if you’re leading to be liked.
You have to be honest, even when it’s uncomfortable.”
When controversy hit his community, Micah led a bold reflection exercise: identifying the real values the city lived by, based on behavior, not slogans.
Months later, when a historic wildfire and flood devastated the town, that work paid off.
The city’s values held. Departments collaborated. The community rose up together.
As Micah puts it:
“When disaster strikes, your true culture shows.
If you haven’t done the work beforehand, it’s too late.”
Micah’s story also redefines balance and success.
When his parents faced serious health challenges, he left a city manager role for a deputy position closer to home.
It wasn’t a step back; it was a step toward what mattered most.
“I get to do the work of a deputy city manager, but that’s not who I am.
Who I am is a husband, a dad, and a man trying to make a difference.”
Today, in Maricopa—one of the fastest-growing cities in America—Micah helps build systems that serve both people and progress. His approach blends data-driven insight with a deep respect for humanity.
Beyond his work in city management, Micah is shaping the national dialogue around artificial intelligence in government.
He recently launched Civic Innovation AI, a company dedicated to helping public agencies integrate AI tools with responsibility, transparency, and trust.
And his new book, Fragile Systems: An Ecological Approach to AI in Government, challenges leaders to think differently about technology—not as a threat, but as a living system that must be stewarded, not just managed.
It’s the kind of perspective only someone who’s lived at the intersection of public service and innovation can offer.
Listen to Episode 258: “From Accidental MPA to Intentional Leader”
Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen or at HaltingWinter.com/resources.
We are proud to be sponsored by Tyler Technologies, the 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/winter →
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.
