Testimonials

Susan Sherman, ICMA-CM Assistant City Manager

City of Olathe, KS

This quick, easy-to-read guide on city council-manager relations will

give you practical ideas and useful advice on a variety of important

topics, from governance to council retreats. Best thing, you can slip in

and out of the book, reading select topics as you need them. Think of it

as your new Wikipedia on c-m relations.“

Rod Gould Former City Manager

Greenbrae, CA

The council-manager form of government often rises or falls based on

the council-manager relationship. This guidebook is chock full of

useful suggestions for building and maintaining positive working

relations with your council. Whether you are just starting out in the

profession or a seasoned veteran, Making It Work will improve your

performance. Kevin Duggan and Mike Conduff have done us a huge

favor in condensing decades of experience into this volume. I highly

commend it to any practitioner or scholar of local government.“

Martha Bennett Chief Operating Officer, Metro

Portland, OR

Making It Work is a clear, thoughtful, and pragmatic guide to the practices

that build trust between elected councils and local government

executives. Mike and Kevin provide common sense recommendations

about the key relationship that is at the heart of our work in local

governments. I particularly appreciate the focus on the interpersonal skills

that managers need to succeed—listening, consistent communication, the

ability to receive feedback, and the ability to adjust your style to your

audience. This is 21st century advice and will help managers in all types of

local governments—city, county, special district, rural, urban, large and

small—build relationships and results with their elected officials.”

Anthony Romanello, ICMA-CM County Administrator

Stafford, VA

Public service is a calling, and good government is an art. Great

communities are not accidental—they are built and must be

nurtured. For both the new manager and the seasoned professional,

Making It Work is the toolkit we all need to stay at the top of our

game.”

Sheryl Sculley City Manager

City of San Antonio, TX

Mike and Kevin have created an illuminating narrative that offers

valuable insights about council-manager relations.”

Milton Dohoney, ICMA-CM Assistant City Manager

City of Phoenix, AZ

Making It Work is relevant for city managers and executive level staff

regardless of community size. It is an easy read, it is built for

practitioners, and it allows us to reflect upon our current methods of

engaging with elected officials with an eye towards best practices. In

short, it should help us do our jobs better!”

Sam S. Gaston City Manager

City of Mountain Brook, AL

Making It Work: The Essentials of Council-Manager Relations is a great

read for all local government managers because it is our relationship

with our governing bodies that most determines our success or failure.

Kevin Duggan and Mike Conduff, through their vast experience in our

profession, have laid out simple but critical advice and guidance for us

to follow.”

Chris McKenzie Executive Director, League of California Cities

Sacramento, CA

Mike and Kevin have authored a highly accessible and practical guide

for successfully navigating the council-manager relationship. Some of

the best passages no doubt were informed by the scars they still carry

from their mistakes as well as their many successes. It’s the kind of

publication you’ll find yourself going back to many times—perhaps

even late at night after a difficult council meeting. You also will share

it with members of your team to help make them more effective and

better prepared for their next professional steps.”

Barbara Romzek Dean, School of Public Affairs

American University

Duggan and Conduff offer excellent insights into strategies for

sustaining the important balance between managerial expertise and

responsiveness to elected officials—the perennial challenge of council

manager relations. This work can be a valuable primer to aspiring

and new managers who may be facing these issues for the first

time. It will be a welcome refresher to experienced local government

managers when challenges to effective council relations inevitably

arise.”

Carl Stenberg University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

In one publication ICMA has provided a much-needed comprehensive

review of the dynamics of manager relationships with elected officials

and staff. The authors offer candid and constructive insights and

advice from real world experiences. Their principles, protocols, and

practices will prove valuable to both experienced managers and

emerging management team leaders.”

Ted Gaebler San Rafael, CA

Kevin and Mike hit the mark by focusing on establishing and

maintaining effective council-manager relations. Being urged to focus

on this too-often neglected topic is one of the gifts of this book.”

Sylvester Murray, Coordinator, MPA Program Savannah State University

Savannah, GA

Dugan and Conduff have written an excellent on-the-job manual. It is

brisk, crisp, and instructive. Obviously written from both academic

learning and practical experiences. If read and followed, it would help

administrators avoid managerial potholes (and maybe a sinkhole).”