As I begin my term as president of GMA, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the last few years as GMA vice president and on what’s ahead.
Danish Theologian Søren Kierkegaard once said, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” That sentiment feels especially true in city government. Every ordinance we pass and every budget we approve is shaped by lessons learned, sometimes the hard way.
Looking back isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about using the past to help us navigate what’s next. Our cities didn’t arrive at this moment by accident. People before us took on real challenges—unlit streets, unpaved roads, unsafe drinking water—and pushed for something better. Their work reminds us that progress doesn’t mean starting from scratch; it means building with purpose, learning from what worked and what didn’t. In looking back we see that innovation and wisdom aren’t at odds; they’re partners. We don’t throw out the map just because the terrain has changed; we adjust it, knowing from experience where the rough patches might be.
But looking ahead takes more than memory. It takes leadership, the kind that was front and center at this year’s GMA Convention with Jon Gordon’s keynote on “The Power of Positive Leadership.” Positivity isn’t spin. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s a conscious, consistent choice to move forward with integrity and intention.
Positive leadership starts with culture. It means living our values and honoring our people, so that employees feel valued and residents feel heard. It means caring more, building trust, and keeping our word, because trust doesn’t just build strong communities; it attracts investment and opportunity. We have to keep sharing the vision, over and over, until everyone can say it with us. That’s not overkill; that’s alignment. It’s what gets people on board.
We also have to turn problems into possibilities. That means seeing every challenge—whether it’s a tight budget, tough regulations or environmental impacts—as a chance to be creative and collaborate.
And we must communicate early, often, and clearly. When people don’t know what’s going on, misinformation and fear take over. Transparent, plain-spoken communication is how we keep communities grounded and hopeful.
There’s no shortage of tough issues ahead: affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, retaining great public servants, and building local economies that create pathways for all our residents. Some decisions we make will be spot-on. Others will be works in progress. And a few will miss the mark. That’s the nature of this work; it’s fundamentally human. But if we keep learning, stay grounded in the lessons of the past, and lead with courage and clarity, we’ll chart a path that future leaders can follow with confidence.
When we gather again next summer and look back on this year, I hope we’ll say that our optimism wasn’t naïve but was essential, that our courage moved others to act, and that, just as Kierkegaard said, we understood the past just enough to boldly build the future.
