I keep a file box with quotes and sayings and tips and stuff. One of the cards I have in this box has the following leadership tip. I don’t know where it originally came from and can find no source for it now. But I’ve always liked it when I thumb through the cards.

Never leave it to a group to decide between spontaneous suggestions presented to it without forethought. While you should not insist every time that your proposal be adopted, you should have a proposal ready for each critical point of decision. That is the essence of leadership.

Leadership … It is almost like it is a lost art.

I was talking to an un-named staff person in an un-named city which collects funds for a Stormwater Management Utility.  The goal being I thought,  to reduce water runoff directly into the lake and river and to clean up the water that does run off into the lake and river before it gets there. Pretty basic. It was an environmental thing.

He was explaining to me that credits were available to commercial and industrial accounts for containing storm water on their property but no credits were available for residential accounts. The reason given was that too many people may apply and thus reduce the amount of funds going into the account.

I thought the goal of the utility was to reduce quantity and quality of storm water run off.

I have now learned the goal of this utility is to generate funds. Pure and simple.

It has nothing to do with protecting the environment.

Surprise!

In my part of the world it is time for local political races to take shape. Nominations for Mayor, City Council and County Board are just around the corner.

While candidates for office need to develop answers to all possible questions they may be asked during the campaign, the most important question to have a ready answer for is, “Why are you running for ______________?”

Every candidate gets that question more than any other question and a short concise answer is needed. If you stumble over that question, your campaign will stumble. Know exactly why you are running for office and answer the question with confidence.

If there is one thing that a constituent should never say to an elected officials it is ..

“I pay your salary…”

Geez, I hate that when people say it.

I was without an internet connection in the office for the past three days.

It’s amazing what all you can get behind on, when you are without your main connection to the world for three days.

 The Kaksistocracy Revolution starts HERE …

Watch it then … Pass it On.

I’ve written much about Overthrowing the Kakistocracy lately. My belief that incompetents are running the country at all levels of government.

Prior to this week I also believed that college sports was in the same condition. The rearranging of the conferences no longer have any rhyme or reason. Then the Penn State story broke. It removed all doubt that college sports is also in a state of  kakistocracy.

It is sad.

   The time you decide to give up, is when you are one step away from success. ~ Anonymous

How many times has that happened to you?

There are a number of interesting Mayor elections tomorrow.

This article from Reuters discusses some of them.

I especially liked the description of  San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee …

“Lee was appointed interim mayor when former Mayor Gavin Newsom was elected lieutenant governor last November. Lee vowed not to seek a full term but did so anyway.”

Enjoy!

Eau Claire, WI has a new fire chief. Lyle Koener, Jr. has been appointed to the position. After a nationwide search the City of Eau Claire decided to hire one of their own.

When I served on the Police and Fire Commission we had a member who believed that new chiefs should always be hired from outside the city to “shake up” the department. In fact locals need not even apply for the position according to him.

I always believed in hiring the local if all else was equal. Obviously if the outsider was head and shoulders above other candidates then that person should be hired but it is very seldom the outsider will meet that standard.

So what is your philosophy? Local or Outsider?