Last September after mounting pressure, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) finally capitulated and settled the James Freed lawsuit a month before it was scheduled to go to trial. In this episode, we catch up with the Port Huron, Michigan city manager and see what life is like after his huge victory.
Hint: Lots of vacations with the wife. ROTFLMAO!
We also discuss the failures of his state association, the Michigan Municipal Executives, and discuss the feelings of abandonment and gaslighting he endured throughout this process. He shares how his faith and a supportive wife got him through the dark days and the numerous battles he has faced over the last seven years.
We also talk about the state of the city management profession and the challenges facing managers in Michigan.
SHOW NOTES
Link to James Freed's LinkedIn page and his municipal consulting company, Pivot Group Municipal Services
EPISODE SPONSOR:
This episode is sponsored by Holbrook Asphalt.
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Join the hundreds of other cities making the smart choice. Choose HA5 for longer-lasting roads and a healthier budget.
Learn more at holbrookasphalt.com/city.
AAME JOB BOARD:
The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/
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