{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"PhoneLive Blog","provider_url":"https:\/\/phonelive.io\/blog","author_name":"Hugh Plappert","author_url":"https:\/\/phonelive.io\/blog\/author\/hughphonelive-io\/","title":"From Humble Beginnings to City Management (with Tommy Gonzalez) | Ground Floor Government Ep. 41 From Humble Beginnings to City Management (with Tommy Gonzalez) | Ep. 41","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"oXynsAUkJh\"><a href=\"https:\/\/phonelive.io\/blog\/gfg_ep41\/\">From Humble Beginnings to City Management (with Tommy Gonzalez) | Ground Floor Government Ep. 41<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/phonelive.io\/blog\/gfg_ep41\/embed\/#?secret=oXynsAUkJh\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;From Humble Beginnings to City Management (with Tommy Gonzalez) | Ground Floor Government Ep. 41&#8221; &#8212; PhoneLive Blog\" data-secret=\"oXynsAUkJh\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/phonelive.io\/blog\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","description":"Tommy Gonzalez, the City Manager of Midland, Texas, shares his journey into city management, discussing the complexities and responsibilities of his role. He emphasizes the importance of strategic planning, community engagement, and effective budgeting. Tommy also recounts significant challenges he has faced, including navigating a firefighter pension fund issue, and highlights impactful community projects that have enhanced local life. He stresses the need for strong people skills in managing public relations and finances, advocating for active listening as a key leadership trait. In this conversation, city manager Tommy Gonzalez discusses the importance of effective budgeting, the role of ADA accessibility in city management, the value of cross-functional teamwork, and offers advice for those looking to enter local government. He emphasizes listening to the community, using data-driven approaches for budgeting, and the significance of mentorship in professional development.","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/phonelive.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/PL_Site.png","thumbnail_width":1200,"thumbnail_height":630}