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Peoria, IL WHAT IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
Local government service is inherently meaningful because our work is related to building and
improving communities. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics and building inspectors keep
us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City
and county planners help envision and shape future City growth. Recreation, arts & culture
and library professionals enhance community life. City and county management takes the
aspirations of residents and the policy goals of the elected governing board and puts those
aspirations and goals into action.
Public service at the local level is also fulfilling because employees see the fruits of their
labors. On a daily basis, local government employees see street and other infrastructure
improvements, new buildings coming out of the ground, safety improvements, and happier
and more fulfilled children, families and senior citizens.
Public service at the local level is also challenging work. The efforts of local government
workers happens in the context of local government where everyone gets to participate;
everyone has a say.
Every day presents new challenges, new problems, and lots of stimuli.
IF YOU CHOOSE A CAREER IN PROFESSIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT, YOU WILL:
 Have the opportunity to make a difference in and have an impact on people‘s lives.
 Have diverse responsibilities that vary from day-to-day. There is never a “routine” day in local
government management.
 Solve problems by challenging yourself and others.
 Work with colleagues and contemporaries who accept high ethical standards and who actively
support these standards through their decisions.
 Know that you can turn to like-minded people for professional guidance to your questions,
because they want you to succeed.
 Be a leader and work with other leaders for the betterment of community.
Source: www.icma.org The Legacy Project JOBS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Information Technology
Management
Community and Public Health
City Manager
Information Services Director
Director of Community Events
Deputy City Manager
Asst. Information Services Dir.
Director of Health & Human Services
Assistant City Manager
Systems Administrator
Director of Counseling
Assistant to the City Manager
GIS Specialist
Management Analyst
Internet Operations Specialist
Customer Service Assistant
GPS Technician
Police Chief
Executive Assistant
Systems Technician
Deputy Police Chief
Management Intern
GIS Technician
Police Lieutenant
Social Services Coordinator
Police Department
Community Development
Records Management
Police Sergeant
Village Clerk
Community Development Director
Records Manager
Deputy Village Clerk
Chief Building Inspector
Emergency Management
Document Management Tech.
Building Division Manager
Public Education Supervisor
Records Clerk
Planning Manager
VOC Manager
Project Manager
VOC Supervisor
Village Attorney
Staff Engineer—Development
911 Dispatcher
Assistant Village Attorney
Planner
Purchasing Supervisor
Staff Attorney
Inspector
Crime Prevention Specialist
Risk Manager
Code Enforcement Officer
Case Records Specialist
Legal Positions
Fire Department
Legal Secretary
Court/Property Control Officer
Fire Chief
Community Service Officer
Deputy Fire Chief
Police Officer
Human Resource Director
Battalion Chief
Investigative Aid
Assist. Human Resource Director
Assistant to the Chief
Crossing Guard
Benefits Coordinator
Fire Inspector
Human Resource Analyst
Fire Lieutenant
Public Works Director
Administrative Secretary
Firefighter-Paramedic
Assistant Public Works Director
Law Clerk
Human Resources
Public Works
Parks and Recreation
Public Relations
Traffic Engineer Manager
Communications Director
Director of Parks and Rec.
Staff Engineer
Production Supervisor
Director of Administrative Services
Stormwater Administrator
Publications Technician
Landscape Architect
Fleet Services Manager
Public Relations Specialist
Park Operations Manager
Village Forester
Golf Course Superintendent
Street Division Manager
Fitness Center Manager
Water Operations Manager
Finance Director
Manager of Natural Resources
Public Services Coordinator
Assistant Finance Director
Museum Supervisor
Bus Operator
Budget Officer
Recreation Supervisor
Maintenance Worker
Accountant
Office Manager
Public Works Technician
Grants Coordinator
Airport Manager
CAD Technician
Communications Specialist
Finance
Building Management
Payroll Specialist
Water Production Specialist
Building Service Manager
Water Billing Clerk
Materials Coordinator
Building Maintenance Technician
Building Maintenance Worker
“Never doubt that a small group of though ul, commi ed ci zens can change the world.” —Margaret Mead The Legacy Project WHY I CHOSE THIS CAREER
At the end of college, with a degree in Political Science and a burning
desire to contribute, I was faced with a challenge. I did not want to
go to law school, loved “government”, but was not enamored with
working in either the State or Federal levels. I did not want to be a
“G13”. I knew I needed to eat and wanted to be self-sufficient. I
found local government to be the ideal fit. Working in a community
where you can make a difference is gratifying. Sure it can be
challenging but helping residents solve problems or address concerns
or just listen to their hopes and desires for the community where
they live, is rewarding.”—Kathleen Rush, Village Administrator, Village of Woodridge,
What I love about working in the public works field is that we touch
everyone's life every day. We provide water, sewers, and the
morning bus ride to the train station. We manage multi-million
dollar infrastructure, snow and ice, garbage collection and
transportation systems. We are challenged to solve simple and
complex problems everyday, and by solving them we make our
communities better and improve the lives of the people who live
there.” —Nan Newlon, Director of Public Works, Downers
Grove, IL.
“I worked in Downers Grove for twenty-two years and rose to the
rank of Deputy Chief. Throughout my career I was developing my
leadership skills with the ultimate goal of becoming a Police Chief.
My “aha moment” came when I completed the Western Springs
assessment center process for the position of Director of Law
Enforcement Services. I said to myself, “I can do this. I know I am
the right fit for the department and the community.” Since that time
I have been leading the Department for over seven years. As Police
Chiefs, we serve in these leadership capacities in order to make our
communities safer places for our citizens to live in and work in. I
recognize how fortunate I am to serve the Village.” —Pam Church, Police Chief,
Western Springs, IL.
“I spent the first twenty years of my career in Community Development – first managing housing and neighborhood improvement
programs and eventually serving as a department head. As a
department head, I realized that I really loved developing people –
helping other City employees reach their potential and contribute to
making our community great. So the move to the Manager’s Office
was a natural one for me; being the Assistant City Manager has put
me in the position where I can be a resource for all of our employees.
In the Manager’s Office, I help our staff understand the City’s mission,
the City Council’s priorities, and how each person can make a real
difference in the community through their work.“ —Dorothy David, Assistant City
Manager, City of Champaign, IL.
The Legacy Project FEMALES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
87.4%
90%
Female
77.5%
80%
Male
70%
60%
Number of total ICMA
memberships and ICMA
CAO memberships in 2012.
50%
40%
30%
22.5%
12.6%
20%
10%
0%
ICMA Membership
ICMA CAO's
91%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Percentage of ICMA
members in Illinois by
position.
88.5%
Female
76%
48% 51%
32%
24%
8%
86.6%
90%
Male
68%
Female
77.5%
80%
Male
70%
60%
50%
ICMA Memberships since
1989.
40%
22.5%
30%
20%
11.5%
13.4%
1989
1998
10%
0%
2011
The Legacy Project MPA SCHOOLS IN ILLINOIS
The following is a list of schools in Illinois that offer a graduate program in Public
Administration or Public Policy. There are also many schools that have these programs
outside of Illinois. Visit www.naspaa.org for more information and to find more schools.
Governors State University
http://www.govst.edu/
708.534.4391
bpainfo@govst.edu
University of Illinois-Chicago
http://cuppa-pa.uic.edu/
Sharon Sanders
Assistant to the Head
312-996-2160
shar@uic.edu
University of Illinois—Springfield
www.uis.edu/publicadministration/
217.206.6310
mpa@uis.edu
DePaul University
http://las.depaul.edu/sps/Programs
Degrees/MPA.asp
John C. Ronquillo, Ph.D.
312.362.5514
jronquil@depaul.edu
Illinois Institute of Technology
www.stuart.iit.edu/mpa/
312.906.6576
admission@stuart.iit.edu
Northern Illinois University
www.mpa.niu.edu
Denise E. Burchard
Assistant to the Chair
815.753.6149
dburchard@niu.edu
Roosevelt University
www.roosevelt.edu/CAS/Programs
PSPA.aspx
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
www.mpa.siu.edu
618.453.3177
mpaprog@siu.edu
Northwestern University
www.scs.northwestern.edu/programareas/graduate/public-policy
Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville
www.siue.edu/artsandsciences/papa/
618.650.5044
Downtown Glenn Ellyn, IL
The Legacy Project RESOURCES
The following are a list of professional associations directly related to specific careers in
local government. Each association offers a lot of networking and professional
development activities to further your career in the profession.
Illinois City/County Management
Association (ILCMA)
Center for Governmental Studies
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
www.ilcma.org
The American Society for Public
Administration (ASPA)
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20004
www.aspanet.org
International City/County
Management Association (ICMA)
777 North Capitol Street NE,
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20002-4201
www.icma.org
Government Finance Officers
Association (GFOA)
203 N. LaSalle Street – Suite 2700
Chicago, IL 60601
www.gfoa.org
American Planning Association
122 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
www.planning.org
National Public Employer Labor
Relations Association (NPELRA)
www.npelra.org
Illinois Public Employer Labor
Relations Association (IPELRA)
6133 N. River Road, Suite 1120
Rosemont, IL 60018
www.ipelra.org
American Public Works Association
2345 Grand Blvd., Ste. 700
Kansas City, MO 64108
www.apwa.net
Carol Stream, IL
The Legacy Project Contact Information
Feel free to contact any of the professionals on this page with questions about a career in
local government. If they do not have the correct answer for you, they will be willing to
get you in touch with who you need to talk to. We all love our careers in the public sector
and are interested in helping you find a satisfying career in your future.
Justyn Miller
Administrative Planning Intern
City of DeKalb
815.748.2394
Justyn.Miller@CityofDekalb.com
MPA Graduate Student at Northern
Illinois University
Denise Burchard
Assistant to the Chair
Division of Public Administration
Northern Illinois University
dburchard@niu.edu
815.753.0183
Kathleen Rush
Village Administrator
Village of Woodridge
krush@vil.woodridge.il.us
630.719.4707
Heidi Voorhees
President
Voorhees Associates, LLC
847.256.7299
hvorhees@varesume.com
Ingrid Velkme
Deputy Village Manager
Director of Administrative Services
Village of Western Springs
708.246.1800 Ext. 125
Ivelkme@wsprings.com
Jamie Ludovic
Assistant Village Administrator
Village of Montgomery
630.896.8080 Ext. 1112
Ludovic@ci.montgomery.il.us
Rachel Lange
Management Analyst / HR
Village of Montgomery
630.896.8080 Ext. 1552
Lange@ci.montgomery.il.us
Aurora, IL
The Legacy Project