Make a Difference: Navigating the Maze of Local Government

By Cynthia Northrop White

You have probably heard the adage, “all politics is local.” It suggests that most of us are motivated politically by what is going on in our lives, in our actual neighborhoods and communalities. The reality is that not only does local government have the most influence in your life, but also provides the opportunity for you to make the biggest difference.

In her book, “Make a Difference: Navigating the Maze of Local Government,” Cynthia Northrop White offers a veritable guidebook for understanding the way local government operates and how you can make the biggest impact. This book is not only for the neighborhood citizen who wants to change the way the city picks up trash or the way tax rates are established, but also for the college student preparing for a life in the political arena.

“If citizens are knowledgeable about how government works and how different levels of government interact they will be more successful in finding solutions to issues important to them.”

Many people desire to make a difference in their community, but they have no idea where to begin or how to proceed. It might begin with casting your vote, but that is certainly not all that can be done. In her book, “Making a Difference,” Cynthia Northrop White peels away the layers of government so we can see how they function and work together. You will be amazed at how much you can do for your neighborhood and community by simply understanding how to be involved.

“I believe those who read her book will not only gain new insight on how local governments work, they will also be inspired. I highly recommend her both as an author and as a speaker.”
Sheri Groves, Chief Administrator for Ron Marchant, Denton County Commissioner

“I believe people who read this book will gain insight and inspiration on how they can make a difference in their communities through local government and community participation.”
Bobbie Mitchell – Denton County Commissioner

I hope many will read “Making a Difference” and learn basic mechanics of local government that will equip them with information, and glean from her insights into how they can participate more effectively so that our rights and privileges may continue, and pass them on to our children and grandchildren”
Eric Kaszynski
Community Activist

Cynthia has been active in many areas of the community serving two terms on the Lewisville, Texas, City Council. She also served as a Denton County Commissioner for two terms. Cynthia’s passion for educating people on how local government works and why it is important to be involved has remained a consistent theme in all her undertakings. Her hobbies include health and fitness, and music. Actively training clients today, Cynthia has been a lifetime advocate of health and fitness, becoming a Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. A self-taught keyboard player, her musical outlets include singing and songwriting. She has produced five CD’s of mostly original tunes, plays in a band, and sings and plays keyboard on the worship team in her home church.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Brothers Publishing
• Release date: Sep 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310693922

Book preview

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Civic Duty

Lost Art of Civility

Government 101

Local Government

Community

Rules of Engagement

Media: Is Perception Reality?

Knowledge is Power

Resources

Online Resources

Collection of Columns

Appendix

About the Author

Make a Difference

Navigating the Maze of Local Government

Cynthia Northrop White

What people are saying...

Cynthia has been a friend for years, and I have worked with her as an advocate and elected official. Her experience in local government, the most direct form of democracy in our country, gives her special insight into how our system works.

Senator Jane Nelson - TX Senate District 12

Cynthia and I have a long history of serving together in local communities dating back to our days on the Lewisville City Council, including community endeavors together on Denton County Commissioners Court. We have participated in community issues, long term city/county planning, budget sessions, setting tax rates, and prioritizing initiatives and issues. Through our service an enduring friendship has been forged, based on trust and respect, independent of whether or not we agree or are coming down on different sides of an issue. In her book, Cynthia covers topics from civility to the rules of engagement for how to engage in local government and our community from a position of ‘walking the talk.’ She has demonstrated time and time again, in times of peace and in the heat of the battle, that agreeing to disagree is one key of building trust and respect. I believe people who read this book will gain insight and inspiration on how they can make a difference in their communities through local government and community participation.

Bobbie Mitchell – Denton County Commissioner

Denton County Precinct 3

Citizens want to know what they want to know when they want to know it! Cynthia is a master of seeing the right things and sharing the right way to capture the attention and interests of people at the right time and right way!

Rob Franke, Mayor of Cedar Hill, TX

Cynthia began at the bottom as a volunteer in campaign work. She progressed to become a full time staffer in a Congressional District office for the US House Majority Leader. Seeing a need for action at the local level, she again went on the campaign trail, and this time for herself. She was elected to City Council, then went on to become County Commissioner showing at each level how Joe Public can and should be involved. I admire her energy and honesty as well as her organization skills and intellect on the issue of working with every level of government. The woman knows her subject!

Jean Campbell, Former District Director,

US House 26th, Texas

(Cynthia’s direct supervisor

when she worked for Congressman Dick Armey)

Cynthia’s actions align with her message of encouraging citizen participation in their local government and community. I worked with Cynthia on the 13-mile Lewisville Lake Corridor in Denton County, TX when she was County Commissioner for Precinct 1. Since Denton County was my client, and the Corridor is located in Precinct 1, I worked very closely with Cynthia. She cared about her constituents, county staff, consultants, and contractors; and worked hard to resolve conflicts and move the project forward. I enjoyed working with Cynthia and would attribute the success of the project to her leadership, communication, and people skills. I am confident that anyone who reads her book will take away valuable information that will shed light on successfully navigating local government.

Bo Cung, VP Facilities Management

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T)

I count it an honor to have worked alongside Cynthia. She is a sincere and authentic public servant. It is not surprising that in every public capacity she has served that her peers support her in leadership positions whether it was on the Lewisville City Council as Mayor Pro-Tem, on Denton County Commissioner’s Court, representing the Court on the Regional Transportation Council, and on the RTC itself where she was elected to serve as Secretary (2005), Vice-Chair (2006), and Chair (2007). Throughout her service, Cynthia has gained a reputation as a highly professional advocate for educating the public and facilitating the interaction of agencies, stakeholders, and the general public for the purpose of working together for solutions to the many challenges local governments face. Her knowledge of government, the legislative process, interagency cooperation undergirded by her passion for public service is unparalleled.

Andy Eads, Denton County Commissioner

I had the pleasure of working with Cynthia who was serving as a Denton County Commissioner during my tenure as a City Manager in Denton County. Having now worked in three Texas counties, I now know that my city and I were spoiled by the amount of communication and involvement that Cynthia provided for us and to which she was committed. Her passion and commitment to educating people on local government for the purpose of gaining informed citizen/community involvement and participation exceeds anything I have seen, and I have been attempting to duplicate those efforts ever since.

Julie Johnston

City Manager, Dickinson, Texas

"You frequently hear the phrase, ‘all politics is local.’ This book provides enlightenment to this thought from a practical grassroots point of view. The experience and insight Cynthia shares is something that should be basic understanding for anyone wishing to participate and help better our society. I appreciate her passion, wisdom and commitment to helping others effectively engage."

Bill Hale, Chief Engineer

Texas Department of Transportation

I have known Cynthia for almost 20 years - throughout her career in local and state government. I have had the pleasure of interacting with her in both official and unofficial ways. Cynthia has impressed me time and again with her dedication to leadership through outreach, and by working side by side with her constituents - as a team. The secret to her success is that she truly understands the importance of involving people, creating coalitions, and how to engage and energize the many working parts of government. I think people are thirsty for leadership like Cynthia has exhibited throughout her career, and as a result, this book is a must-read -- not only for people seeking to understand the way government works, but for current elected officials who need to do their jobs better!"

Tiffany Melvin, President of NASCO

North American Strategy for Competitiveness

I have just read an advance excerpt from Cynthia Northrop’s new book on local governments and our rights and responsibilities as citizens to participate in their activities. I have long admired Cynthia’s energy, enthusiasm, and her dedication to local government. In an era where it seems much more fashionable to complain about local government than to participate in it, I applaud her commitment and have thoroughly enjoyed her book. I hope many will read it and learn basic mechanics of local government that will equip them with information, and glean from her insights into how they can participate more effectively so that our rights and privileges may continue, and pass them on to our children and grandchildren. I hope the day comes when we can speak with pride of the things we did to preserve those democratic ideals and encourage those that follow us to do the same!

Eric Kaszynski

Community Activist

Cynthia is a committed public servant. Her most outstanding attribute is that she is willing to listen.

Ben Smith,

Pastor First Baptist of Lake Dallas

Cynthia White began her career in public service as a Constituent Liaison for U.S. Congressman Dick Armey. She then began a distinguished career in local government serving on the City of Lewisville Planning and Zoning, followed by election to the Lewisville City Council where she served as Mayor Pro-Tem from 1994 – 1995. She was elected to Commissioners Court in Denton County in 2000 where she worked hard for the people of Precinct 1 and beyond. Commissioner White became known as a leader on transportation issues for her region where her dedication has helped pave the way for numerous projects. The Commissioner has served as the Chair of the Regional Transportation Council, a board member of the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition, and has spoken on transportation issues throughout the state, including the Texas Senate. Commissioner White’s public service goes beyond government. She has volunteered with numerous non-profit organizations such as Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army of Denton Advisory Board and United Way. Her service sets a standard of devotion and true leadership, one that will never be forgotten.

Congress Michael Burgess, (TX-26)

Excerpt from Congressman Burgess’ extension of remarks given in the U.S. House of Representatives Friday, September 26, 2008, and recorded in the Congressional Record (110th Congress, Second Session) honoring Commissioner Cynthia White.

I’ve watched Cynthia in action over the years and she continues to surprise me with her knowledge and experience in all aspects related to government. She is a motivating and informative speaker. Her passion for empowering and equipping people to be productively engaged in local government and their communities is sincere and authentic. I believe those who read her book will not only gain new insight on how local governments work, they will also be inspired. I highly recommend her both as an author and as a speaker.

Sheri Groves, Chief Administrator for Ron Marchant,

Denton County Commissioner, Pct. 2

Make a Difference: Navigating the Maze of Local Government

Author: Cynthia Northrop White

Published by Austin Brothers Publishing

Fort Worth, Texas

www.austinbrotherspublishing.com

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2015 by Cynthia Northrop White

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews or articles.

Books are available in quantity for promotional or educational use. Contact Austin Brothers Publishing for information at 3616 Sutter Ct., Fort Worth, TX 76137 or [e-mail].

This and other books published by Austin Brothers Publishing can be purchased at www.austinbrotherspublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

2015 -- First Edition

This book is dedicated to my parents who instilled in me simple lessons of truth that still whisper to me almost daily. Though I may have resented and resisted these seeds of truth while growing up, doubting any redeeming value, they have sprouted in my heart, and stood the test of my relative brief time here in this life. This dedication extends to my family whom I love with all my heart.

This is also dedicated to all those who serve and give of themselves to others through public service be it elected, appointed, or a chosen profession in the public sector. In our current culture of distrust and lost hope, public service is often misunderstood and under appreciated by the very ones it was intended to benefit. Thank you for your service, dedication, and perseverance.

Finally, this is dedicated to all those who will read this book and be inspired to take a leap of faith by participating and engaging in their local communities and their local government. You and your local communities and government will be better off for your informed participation and engagement.

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Civic Duty

Lost Art of Civility

Government 101

Local Government

Community

Rules of Engagement

Media: Is Perception Reality?

Knowledge is Power

Resources

Online Resources

Collection of Columns

Appendix

About the Author

Foreword

Far too often I have seen scenes similar to the following: a citizen at a city council candidate forum asking the candidates what they will do for the schools; a county resident upset that a business they deem unacceptable is allowed to locate nearby; citizens that either don’t want more development in their neighborhood, or others who do value development as long as it is quality development, both of whom don’t know what to do about it; or a citizen who is frustrated by congestion and the increase in toll roads, and wonders why their tax dollars don’t cover the cost of the roads.

These are a few examples of concerns and questions people have about their communities and local government. From my experience, most people seem to agree that navigating local government is more of a mystery than the federal government, or even state government, and because it is local it hits close to home.

It’s an interesting paradox because in the early days of America’s history the government was all local. Think of the thirteen original colonies and when the federal government was a new proposition. In fact, the proposition of a new federal government created quite a controversy because it was a mystery. The framers of the Constitution mirrored local government characteristics as they created the building blocks of the document, including the idea of separation of duties and powers. For instance, just as cities have mayors, councils, and municipal courts, states have governors, legislative assemblies, and judiciaries, and the federal government has the executive, legislative, and the judiciary branches of government. One of the primary concerns in forming the federal government centered on freedom and maintaining freedom for citizens.¹

As Americans, freedom is something most of us cherish; it is built into our DNA. We know it is all about us, and we believe that the government works for us. It is, after all, government for the people, by the people, and of the people. But I think many Americans feel like they don’t or can’t control the government, whether it is local, state, or federal, and that leaves them feeling helpless.

While a vast majority of Americans are satisfied with the level of freedom they have, the numbers have been in decline, dropping 12 percentage points from 91% in 2006 to 79% in 2013.² At the same time, another Gallup poll shows that in 1994 a whopping 17% trusted the government in Washington to do the right thing, though by 2002 it climbed to 60%. Since 2002 American’s trust of the government has been in decline, back down to 19% in 2010.³

A more detailed study conducted by the Pew Research Center over a longer period of time from 1958–2014, generally confirms the trend of the Gallup Poll, but it is interesting to note there has been a steady decline since 1964 when American’s trust in the government was at an all time high of 74%.⁴ The latest results of this poll show the trust level at 24%.

I believe many people want to feel like they can impact how government works. I believe people want to believe their vote matters, and they want to believe the people they vote for are trustworthy and will do what they say. People want to trust government. They just don’t know how to get control of the government back into their hands. I believe the more knowledge people have about how their government works, and the more they understand how they can actually be a part of government, especially at the local level where it does tend to impact them most, the more they will be able to impact how government works and return to the driver’s seat. Knowledge is power, which is why I wrote this book.

This is a book about local government and local communities. It is a nuts and bolts book on local government, and at the same time it is a book that connects the dots between local government, federal government, and the American system of government by exploring America’s early history and founding principles. I hope to inspire people with new energy, knowledge, and tools to stir up a new found belief that it is not too late to make a difference in their communities, in their local governments, and in their world.

The success of our entire system of government depends on informed citizen involvement, and that involvement or engagement can happen in many different areas and in many different ways. My hope is that this book will not only ignite a desire to participate, but will also provide knowledge in a one-stop-shop, of sorts, that is easily read, understood, and put into practice.

As one of America’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States, who also believed that knowledge is power. In his mind, our freedom was only possible with knowledge, If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

Though perhaps less well known, Jefferson was just as passionate about public education, which in his mind was more than likely just an extension of his commitment to freedom, There are two subjects, indeed, which I shall claim a right to further as long as I breathe: the public education, and the sub-division of counties into wards. I consider the continuance of republican government as absolutely hanging on these two hooks.⁵

In addition to concise information on local government and how the American system of government informs and influences local government, I touch on a few other concepts I believe are integral to both. I also share insights I learned along my journey in local government as well as some insights and advice from others I’ve met. I have been inspired by seeing and hearing the stories of others, and I know many of you have been as well.

The simple act of sharing our stories is incredibly powerful. I hope that as I share my story about local government and it’s connection to our founding principles, it serves to ignite passion and empower people to once again believe and engage in the world around them by starting where it truly can make the most difference, and that, I believe, is our local communities and local government.

Introduction

I was one of the most unlikely people to ever run for public office. My awareness of and exposure to local government occurred while I was managing a local mom and pop retail store specializing in women’s fashion. I was into fashion, music, and health and fitness, but somehow an opportunity to attend a leadership program sponsored by the local chamber caught my attention. A shout out to my bosses at the time, Kay and Phil Smith, who encouraged my participation, and a note to other business owners and manager: Your encouragement to your employees to get involved in the local community is a prime example of how you can make a difference!

It was this leadership program, which I highly recommend, that explored community; conducting sessions on local government, business environment, community, and non-profits, that opened up my eyes to the possibility of involvement through knowledge, and it fanned the flame I had of wanting to make a difference in the world. After graduating from the 9-month leadership program, I applied and received an appointment to the city’s planning and zoning commission. From there, I went on to run for a spot on the city council and served two terms.

It was during this time I made a dramatic career switch from fashion and managing a woman’s clothing store to working in U.S. Representative Dick Armey’s congressional district office. At some point, I remember thinking I may not be able to change the world, but I can make a difference in my little corner