Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better

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The HaltingWinter Podcast

If you lead in local government, you know this tension intimately:

The need to act—fast.
The need to include—thoroughly.
The reality that doing both well is rarely easy.

In Episode 188 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, I sit down with Dalton Pierce, City Manager of York, South Carolina, to talk about the tightrope walk of municipal leadership, where urgency collides with community, and where your pace can make or break your people.

From Planner to City Manager

Dalton’s story is one many of you will relate to. He started as a city planner, working in long-term timelines, conceptual designs, and stakeholder dreams. Now, as city manager, he navigates something more unpredictable: people, politics, pressure, and potholes.

And while the goals haven’t changed—build stronger communities, foster economic growth, preserve identity—the pace and process certainly have.

“You have to go fast enough to keep things moving, but slow enough that people still see themselves in the process.”

That one line captures the leadership challenge many local government leaders are feeling right now. As expectations rise, resources shrink, and turnover increases, you’re all being asked to do more, faster. But without alignment? You lose your team. And without your team? You lose trust—and progress.

Why Culture Beats Speed

One of the most resonant parts of this conversation is Dalton’s focus on hiring for culture over credentials. He’s unapologetic about prioritizing character, attitude, and alignment over technical perfection. He knows: local government work is personal. If the internal culture suffers, the service to the community suffers too.

It’s a timely reminder for all of us: people don’t perform their best when they’re just filling a seat—they thrive when they’re aligned with the mission and values of the organization.

“Skills can be taught. What I’m looking for is whether someone sees themselves as part of the future we’re building.”

For the Leader Who Feels Alone

Dalton also opens up about the emotional isolation of leadership—the doubts, the second-guessing, and the moments when hearing a simple “me too” from a peer has made all the difference.

We don’t talk enough about this reality in the public sector. But if you’ve ever felt like you’re leading on an island, wondering if you’re getting it right, wondering if anyone else has been through what you’re facing—this episode will land.

Because the truth is, you’re not alone. And this episode proves it.


If you’re looking for a place to have these conversations regularly, with peers who get it, join the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC).

Right now, we’re running a Summer Special that won’t last long. You can start with a free 7-day trial and explore what it’s like to grow with a nationwide network of local government leaders committed to better leadership, stronger culture, and sustainable impact.

Start your trial today at haltingwinter.com/mldc


The HaltingWinter Podcast celebrates and elevates the people who power local government. Through in-depth conversations with leaders from cities, counties, and communities of all sizes, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and innovations happening in municipal leadership across America.