Contemporary Challenges in Local Government: Evolving Roles and Responsibilities, Structures, and Processes

Th ree contemporary leadership challenges face local governments today. Th e fi rst encourages department heads to more actively work the intersection between political and administrative arenas. Th e second promotes collaborative work, synchronizing city and county boundaries with problems that have no jurisdictional homes. Th e third argues that citizen engagement is no longer optional—it is imperative—and that connecting engagement initiatives to traditional political values and governing processes is an important mark of successful community building. Th ese three leadership challenges stem from a widening gap between the arenas of politics and administration—that is, between what is politically acceptable in public policy making and what is administratively sustainable. Th e gap is fueled by confl icting trends experienced locally and common internationally. Failure to bridge this gap between political acceptability and administrative sustainability results in decreasing legitimacy for governing institutions and increasing challenges.