Oct 13, 2026
When It's Time to Walk Away | Kevin Lahner | Ep.31
After 25 years in local government, veteran city manager Kevin Lahner made a decision he never expected to make.
He walked away.
Why? Because the profession he loved was beginning to change who he was.
Among his peers, Kevin was a respected leader and mentor. But in the community he served, he increasingly faced accusations of incompetence and dishonesty. For someone whose identity was built around integrity and public service, those accusations cut deeply.
The criticism was relentless. Public meetings. Social media. Emails. Personal attacks. Eventually, the stress followed him home.
In Episode 31 of Gov360, City Manager Chris Mann sits down with former Janesville, Wisconsin City Manager Kevin Lahner for a deeply personal conversation about the emotional toll of public leadership, the changing political environment, and one of the hardest questions any leader can confront:
When is it time to walk away?
Kevin's career began almost by accident. A former journalist, he entered local government in Texas and became interim city manager of Keller at just 26. Over the next two decades, he built a career developing people, strengthening organizations, and solving complex community problems.
But his final years in city management were different.
In Janesville, a controversial proposal to redevelop the former General Motors assembly plant into a data center became a flashpoint for community opposition. Political tensions escalated, and Kevin found himself the target of increasingly personal attacks. His integrity was questioned, and efforts to respond with facts seemed unable to change the narrative.
Kevin describes becoming less patient with his children, struggling to remain present with his family, and carrying stress he didn't fully recognize until he resigned.
When he made that decision, he says he literally felt 20 pounds lighter.
Chris and Kevin explore why competence alone may no longer be enough for local government leaders, how social media and declining public trust have changed the profession, and why the city manager's office can be an incredibly lonely place.
They discuss the importance of professional support networks, vulnerability, executive coaching, and recognizing when the personal cost of leadership becomes too great.
Kevin also reflects on transitioning into the private sector, the parts of city management he still misses, and the unexpected freedom of continuing to serve communities without carrying the weight of the city manager's chair.
For public servants facing difficult times, this conversation offers an important reminder: leadership requires more than resilience and perseverance. It also requires the wisdom to recognize when staying is costing too much.
Because sometimes the hardest leadership decision isn't deciding to stay and fight. It's knowing when to walk away.
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📺 Watch Gov360 Episode 31 on YouTube:
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JOIN THE GOV360 COMMUNITY
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👉 https://www.patreon.com/Gov360
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GOV360 PARTNER: JACOB GREEN & ASSOCIATES
Gov360 welcomes Jacob Green & Associates as our first official sponsor. JGA helps local governments strengthen organizations, develop leaders, and navigate complex challenges.
🏛️ https://www.jacobgreenandassociates.com
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold Open: When Is Enough, Enough?
0:50 Introduction: The Personal Cost of Public Service
1:46 Gov360's First Sponsor: Jacob Green & Associates
4:06 Meet Kevin Lahner: 25 Years in Local Government
5:51 An Unlikely Journey into City Management
10:27 Becoming a City Manager at 26
14:15 What Makes Public Service Worthwhile?
16:50 Respected by Peers, Attacked by the Community
21:34 Why Competence Is No Longer Enough
26:42 What Went Wrong in Janesville?
30:22 The Data Center Controversy
36:50 When Criticism Becomes Personal
43:56 The Hidden Toll on Leaders and Their Families
47:46 The Loneliness of Leadership
53:08 Knowing When It's Time to Walk Away
58:43 Life After City Management
1:06:37 Advice for Leaders Who Are Struggling
1:10:34 Lessons Learned from 25 Years of Leadership
1:13:40 When Is Walking Away the Right Decision?
1:17:23 Protecting Yourself: Contracts and Financial Security
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LINKS & RESOURCES
📬 The Gov360 Briefing: https://gov360briefing.beehiiv.com
👉 Gov360 Web Page: https://www.chrismann.us/gov360
📲 Chris Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismann76
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360/id1807649614
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa
💻 Chris Mann's Website: https://www.chrismann.us
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#LocalGovernment #CityManager #GovernmentLeadership #PublicService #CityManagement #Leadership #Gov360
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