TMCA Clerk Connections

TMCA Clerk Connections

An original podcast series from the Texas Municipal Clerks Association, featuring leaders in our community offering candid conversations and fresh perspectives on Texas’s local government and unique stories to inspire.

Episodes

July 15, 2025 44 mins

In this episode, host Marie Balthrop is joined by James McKechnie, Deputy City Manager and former Deputy City Attorney for Wichita Falls; Becky McGrew, City Secretary for Katy; and Bridgette Begle, municipal lawyer with Olson & Olson, LLP. Together, they explore the vital partnership between city clerks and city attorneys in local government. From managing contracts and handling public information requests to drafting ordinance...

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Join host Marie Balthrop as she sits down with Frances Aguilar, TRMC, MMC, CPM, City Secretary of Pearland, Texas; Kevin Cole, Mayor of Pearland, Texas; Paulette Hartman, City Manager of North Richland Hills, Texas; and Alicia Richardson, TRMC, CMC, City Secretary of North Richland Hills, Texas to explore the keys to effective collaboration in local government. These experienced public servants share their personal paths into the f...

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Join host Marie Balthrop as she sits down with Machiel Covey (Clarendon, Texas), Gretchen Mercer (Canyon, Texas), and Kimberly Sloat (Canadian, Texas) to explore the vital yet often unseen role of city secretaries in small Texas communities. They discuss their unique paths into the profession, the wide-ranging responsibilities they juggle—from elections and HR to budgeting and legal matters—and the challenges of working with limite...

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Join host Marie Balthrop as she chats with Mary Lynne Stratta, the newly retired city secretary for the City of Bryan, Texas, about her remarkable 44-year career in local government, including 34 years as city secretary. Mary Lynne reflects on the evolution of local government, the growing role of city secretaries, and the importance of sharing one’s professional journey. She highlights how technology has enhanced efficiency, the r...

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Join host Marie Balthrop as she talks with Rezzin Pullum, an associate attorney with the Bojorquez Law Firm, about petitions under Texas Election Code 277. They explore best practices for verifying signatures, addressing common issues like mismatched dates of birth and name changes, and ensuring city clerks maintain neutrality throughout the process. Pullum emphasizes leveraging tools such as the Texas Secretary of State voter port...

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Join host Marie Balthrop as she sits down with Bennett Sandlin, executive director at Texas Municipal League, and Rachael Pitts, deputy executive director at Texas Municipal League, to discuss shaping legislative policies. They delve into the critical support TML provides through legal assistance, research, conferences, and training for municipalities. The conversation also highlights the growing shortage of financial staff in smal...

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Join host Marie Balthrop in our debut episode as she sits down with key members of the Texas Municipal Clerks Association team. Guests include Lee Woodward, TRMC, city secretary in La Porte, Texas, and president of TMCA; Amy Holt, PhD, TRMC, education director; Kathleen Spriggs, program project specialist; and Miriam Sheehan, TRMC, administrative director. They discuss the significant benefits of certification, such as increased co...

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July 5, 2024 58 secs

The Texas Municipal Clerks Association presents the all-new Clerk Connections – an original podcast series where we chat one-on-one with leaders in our community offering candid conversations and fresh perspectives on Texas’s local government and unique stories to inspire. Check out the trailer for season one!

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