The Good Government Show
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Retired, not yet says former Lehigh County Executive
“I can’t say to somebody, you have a crisis. We’re not going to help you.”
Phil Armstrong served eight years as Lehigh County Commissioner. Among other projects, he expanded a senior home and he kept the Iron Pigs, a popular minor league team to stay. And he’s not done yet. More
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One Dynamic Mayor in Missouri
“Good government is government that is responsive to you and is a good steward of the resources that they’ve been entrusted…”
Barbara Buffaloe is a dynamo. She might be short, but she’s powerful and a force of nature. Listen to her talk about how she’s working for Columbia, MO. More
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Part of the Solution, A career in Public Service
“…wanting to be a part of something bigger than myself. Part of the solution…”
9/11 changed Kshemendra Paul’s career. He wanted to help, he wanted to be a part of the solution. And he walked away from a career in technology companies and became a public servant. As he sees it, a higher calling. More
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Environmental Protection with Big Oil in Texas
“I’ve been working to make people’s lives, safer and better as a cop. I think I can do it as an elected official.”
In the energy capital of the world, one leader proves you don’t have to choose between jobs and the environment—you can fight for both. More
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The Future of Democracy
“Anything that lasts a long time needs to be fixed along the way.”
The Constitution is a living document. It was written to be changed, updated and amended. Making sure the Constitution and democracy is still working in 2076 is the goal of the organization Democracy 2076. Listen to Cecili Wake discuss the… More
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Water and Taxes on the Beach in Florida
“I love my job. I think it’s the most interesting, rewarding job in the world.”
Hallandale Beach Florida is a small town between Miami and Ft Lauderdale. Joy Cooper has been mayor for 26 years and can talk like an engineer, especially when it comes to water infrastructure projects. More
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Lawyers for Good Government
“making the federal government work better for all Americans for the next 250 years.”
Advancing democracy and advocating for good government, that’s the mission of Democracy Forward, a legal non-profit organization. On this episode we talk with Rob Shriver who heads up their Civil Service Strong program and the Good Government Initiative. Now that… More
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A Conversation with a US Inspector General
“It’s interesting to the inspector general that, you know, it’s been characterized as, sir, the most important public servant. You’ve never heard of.”
Jay Lerner spent 31-years working in the federal government. His last 12 years were serving as in Inspector General for two government departments. Listen to how he viewed his mission and his career in public service More
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Fresno Mayor on ICE on city streets
“We have to get people to realize there’s a lot more good than there is bad.”
Jerry Dyer is the mayor of Fresno. He was elected after 40 years in the city’s police department. Listen to what he has to say about ICE agents infiltrating cities. More
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On the Road with the Tax Assessor
“I truly love working for the people. I’m a taxpayer too. I don’t want to have to overpay, so why should somebody else have to overpay?”
Taxes, ugh, but the tax lady in Fulton County, IN is making it easier. County Assessor Kasey Lee takes her office on the road and meets people where they are. It’s really good government. More
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Your Friends at the IRS
“A messy IRS, a smaller IRS, a less functional IRS does not mean lower taxes for you.”
Imagine getting a call from the President to tell you he wants you to be the head of the IRS. That happened to Danny Werfel. Listen to how he explains the mission of the IRS. More
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Riding the Bus in West Hollywood
“Good government, to me, is the ability to collaborate in an egoless way for the benefit of our community.”
The mayor of West Hollywood, CA doesn’t own a car, she takes the bus, she walks. She says it’s the way for people to see her out in the city, like many of them are. And she talks about trees. More