LocalGovMatters

LocalGovMatters•localgovmatters.wicounties.org

LocalGovMatters, the podcast about all things local government, is launching with new episodes in 2020. Brought to you in partnership by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, LocalGovMatters 2.0 will provide the background, the stories and even some inside baseball on the local impact of state legislation and how local government works. Listen to this short introduction and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

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Episodes

#LocalGovMatters Episode 12: One-on-One with Jefferson County’s Michael Luckey

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Jefferson County Administrator Michael Luckey, as he discusses his new role, important county initiatives, and exciting economic development efforts that are positioning Jefferson County for success today and in the future. Resources Jefferson County Wisconsin Website Thrive Economic Development (ThriveEd) FAB Innovation Campus Uniquely Wiscon...

Jul 08, 2025•31 min

#LocalGovMatters Episode #11: A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012

#LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, sit down with Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp as he discussed the latest report, “A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012.” Wisconsin’s income tax, the largest source of revenue for state government, has undergone significant change since 2012. This report, A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012 , explores the impact of the many tax ra...

Feb 16, 2025•29 min

#LocalGovMatters Episode #10: Create Wisconsin: Arts, Community, Economy

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Create Wisconsin Executive Director Anne Katz to discuss the vital role arts play in our economy, our schools and our communities. We discuss the upcoming legislative session, what communities around Wisconsin are doing to embrace the arts as a part of their core mission and what you can do to learn more about the important mission of Create W...

Nov 25, 2024•30 min

#LocalGovMatters Episode #9: On the Brink: Probing the Upcoming Senior Care Challenges with Forward Analytics Dospoy

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Forward Analytics Deputy Director Kevin Dospoy as he discussed the latest report, “On the Brink: Probing the Upcoming Senior Care Challenges.” Resources Forward Analytics Report: “On the Brink: Probing the Upcoming Senior Care Challenges” Forward Analytics Report: “The Birth Dearth: Falling Fertility Rates, Fewer Babies” Forward Analytics Webs...

Oct 07, 2024•31 min

#LocalGovMatters Episode 8: Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Marquette University Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin to discuss their latest poll on the national political landscape, as well as talk about the redistricting maps recently signed into law by Governor Tony Evers. Resources New Marquette Law School Poll national survey finds Trump at 51%, Biden at 49% in head-to-head match up; each le...

Feb 29, 2024•31 min

#LocalGovMatters Episode 7: Director Knapp Discusses K-12 on the Ballot: Using Referenda to Fund Public Schools

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Dale Knapp, Director of Forward Analytics to discuss their latest report, “K-12 on the Ballot: Using Referenda to Fund Public Schools.” Resources Forward Analytics Report: “K-12 on the Ballot: Using Referenda to Fund Public Schools” Forward Analytics Website Wisconsin Counties Association Website Show Ideas? Contact #LcalGovMatters co-host Mic...

Dec 08, 2023•30 min

#LocalGovMatters Episode 6: An Impactful Leadership Conversation with Dr. Tim Rahschulte

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Dr. Tim Rahschulte, co-founder and executive vice president of the Professional Development Academy. He is a nationally recognized individual on the topic of leadership and discusses the current state of affairs in the workplace, what makes for effective leaders and challenges faced along the way, from the C-Suite to frontline leaders to emplo...

Nov 27, 2023•31 min

#LocalGovMatters Episode 5: Forward Analytics Kevin Dospoy on “Priced Out: The Steep Cost of Childcare in Wisconsin”

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Forward Analytics Deputy Director Kevin Dospoy to discuss the latest report, “Priced Out: The Steep Cost of Childcare in Wisconsin.” We discuss in depth the study, the challenges facing both parents as well as providers, and what impacts this childcare crisis means for the future of our entire state, regardless of if you have young children or...

Oct 16, 2023•29 min

#LocalGovMatters Episode 4: Shared Revenue Conversation with Sen. Felzkowski and Rep. Kurtz

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Wisconsin State Senator Mary Felzkowksi and Wisconsin State Representative Tony Kurtz to discuss the landmark shared revenue legislation, 2023 Wisconsin Act 12, and what it means for the future of our state. Resources Wisconsin Department of Revenue: 2023 Wisconsin Act 12 Information Wisconsin Counties Association website: www.wicounties.org S...

Sep 11, 2023•29 min

#LocalGovMatters Episode 3: WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson as they discuss project updates and what the department does to keep our state moving forward. Secretary Thompson, who is slated to take over as president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in November of 2023, takes a deeper dive into specif...

Aug 07, 2023•30 min

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