Professional city management requires a diverse skill set that provides efficient and effective solutions to complex problems in the communities they serve. Cities are dynamic environments that require technical knowledge, yet soft skills are also critical for professional managers to be successful to the challenges of the 21st century. The City Management Code of Ethics has served the professional manager well when faced with difficult decisions that emerge and as skill sets are developed; however, there are times managers will need the wisdom and guidance of a mentor.
The Emerging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) organization recently partnered with Strategic Government Resources (SGR) to develop the Cookingham Connection which features the 22 guideposts introduced in 1956 by legendary city manager and mentor L.P. Cookingham. Known as a dean of the city management profession, Cookingham transformed municipal government from boss-rule to professional management during his 19 year tenure in Kansas City, Missouri. Currently, 22 seasoned city managers are participating in the Cookingham Connection. Each provides an interpretation of a guidepost, while an emerging leader responds with their interpretation and its relevance today. The program has had a positive impact nationwide on both seasoned and emerging leaders in the city management profession. If the City Management Code of Ethics is the concrete used to set the foundation for professional careers in city management; Cookingham’s guideposts is the rebar that strengthens and reinforces that foundation. Guidepost 22 states, “Keep a framed copy of The City Manager’s Code of Ethics in your office. Read it once in awhile. Always abide by it.”
The progress of the program and Cookingham’s guideposts are available on the ELGL website at www.elgl.org. Upon the completion of the program a printed version will be available.
(Article submitted by Noel Bernal, City Manager, Falfurrias. If you have interesting news or helpful topics to share, please submit them to Kim Pendergraft at [email protected]. Please keep the information to fewer than 250 words.)