LocalGovMatters: Recent Episodes
LocalGovMatters
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!
Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Jeff Mayers, president of WisPolitics.com/State Affairs, where the discussion looks at their new partnership with the State Affairs network, the current happenings at the State Capitol, and what the 2026 election is shaping up to be, including a contested gubernatorial race.
Resources
WisPolitics.com/State Affairs
Wisconsin Counties Association
www.wicounties.org
https://media.blubrry.com/localgovmatters/content.blubrry.com/localgovmatters/LocalGovMatters20250819.mp3Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on August 19, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 13: WisPolitics/State Affairs Jeff Mayers appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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 Wisconsin Jefferson County Videos: Season ThreeThe Artists Behind Trek’s Project One Bikes: Cycling in Waterloo
How William Hoard Created the Dairy State: Jefferson County’s Hoard’s Dairyman
Lifeline for You: Jefferson County’s Brand-New Youth Stabilization Program
Wisconsin Counties Association
LocalGovMatters Website
Show Ideas?Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on July 1, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 12: One-on-One with Jefferson County’s Michael Luckey appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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 rate cuts on taxpayers and on Wisconsin’s tax rank nationally. It also examines how the state’s changing demographics have impacted affected collections.
Resources
Forward Analytics Report: “A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012”
Forward Analytics Website
Wisconsin Counties Association
#LocalGovMatters Websitehttps://localgovmatters.wicounties.org/
Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on February 10, 2025 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode #11: A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012 appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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 Wisconsin.
Resources
Create Wisconsin Website
Create Wisconsin Facebook
Create Wisconsin Instagram
Create Wisconsin X/Twitter
June 2023 Wisconsin Counties Magazine: “The Creative Economy: Fostering a Path to Innovation”
Wisconsin Counties Association Website
Forward Analytics Website
Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on November 19, 2024 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode #10: Create Wisconsin: Arts, Community, Economy appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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 WebsiteWisconsin Counties Association Website
Show Ideas?Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on October 2, 2024 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode #9: On the Brink: Probing the Upcoming Senior Care Challenges with Forward Analytics Dospoy appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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.
ResourcesNew Marquette Law School Poll national survey finds Trump at 51%, Biden at 49% in head-to-head match up; each leads primary challenger by more than 50 points.
Marquette University Law School Poll
Wisconsin Counties Association
LocalGovMatters Website
Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on February 26, 2024 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 8: Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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.”
ResourcesForward 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 Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on November 27, 2023 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 7: Director Knapp Discusses K-12 on the Ballot: Using Referenda to Fund Public Schools appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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 employees.
Resources
Professional Development Academy Website
NACo High Performance Leadership Academy
NACo Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership Academy
Dr. Marshall Goldsmith Book: “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.”
Show Ideas?Contact #LcalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on November 8, 2023 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 6: An Impactful Leadership Conversation with Dr. Tim Rahschulte appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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 not.
Resources
Forward Analytics Report: “Priced Out: The Steep Cost of Childcare in Wisconsin”
Forward Analytics Website: www.forward-analytics.net
Wisconsin Counties Association website: www.wicounties.org
Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on October 6, 2023 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 5: Forward Analytics Kevin Dospoy on “Priced Out: The Steep Cost of Childcare in Wisconsin” appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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.
ResourcesWisconsin Department of Revenue: 2023 Wisconsin Act 12 Information
Wisconsin Counties Association website: www.wicounties.org
Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing, WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support and WCA Government Affairs Intern Jacob Anderson for additional assistance. This episode was recorded on September 7, 2023 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 4: Shared Revenue Conversation with Sen. Felzkowski and Rep. Kurtz appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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 specific major projects, passenger rail, electric vehicles and the critical role of ports in Wisconsin.
Resources
Wisconsin Department of Transportation: www.wisconsindot.gov
Wisconsin Counties Association website: www.wicounties.org
Wisconsin Counties Magazine July 2023 issue on aviation
Show Ideas? Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas. A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on August 3, 2023.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 3: WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
A new report from Forward Analytics, Silent Killer: The Fentanyl Epidemic in Wisconsin, shows our state in the middle of an epidemic of drug overdose deaths driven largely by illegal fentanyl.
“Like the nation, Wisconsin is experiencing a true crisis of drug overdoses, particularly fatal ones due to fentanyl,” said Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp, who authored the study. “This is now the number one killer of Wisconsin residents ages 25 to 54. It’s stunning.”
According to the new study, overdose deaths associated with synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) increased more than 1,000% from 2015 through 2021, claiming more than 4,300 Wisconsin lives.
Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp as they discuss the new report and what it means for both Wisconsin and the nation.
Resources
Forward Analytics Report-Silent Killer: The Fentanyl Epidemic in WisconsinForward Analytics Website
Wisconsin Counties Association Website
Show Ideas?Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on June 7, 2023.
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 2: Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp on Latest Report-Silent Killer: The Fentanyl Epidemic in Wisconsin appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
A new report from Forward Analytics, “Rethinking Revenues: A National Perspective on Funding Counties,” highlights some of the fiscal challenges faced by Wisconsin’s 72 counties due to a long-term shift in state spending priorities, state budget cuts, strict property tax limits, and few local revenue options — challenges that remain despite an influx of federal […]
The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 1: Forward Analytics Director Knapp Discusses “Rethinking Revenues: A National Perspective on Funding Counties” appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
In the latest Forward Analytics report, “The Rural Challenge: Depopulation and Its Economic Consequences,” it was reported that from 2010-2018, two thirds of rural counties in Wisconsin lost population. That percentage was up from 44% during 2000-10, and in rural counties across the nation, a similar pattern has emerged. Join us for this #LocalGovMatters 2.0 podcast, […]
The post #LocalGovMatters 2.0 Episode 5: The Rural Challenge: Depopulation and Its Economic Consequences appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
In accordance with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, if you plan to fly within the United States, visit a military base or any other federal buildings, the Department of Homeland Security will require identification that is REAL ID compliant (or show another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport) beginning October 1, 2020. The Wisconsin […]
The post #LocalGovMatters 2.0 Episode 4: Getting Your REAL ID with Guest Kristina Boardman appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
Join us for this episode of #LocalGovMatters, where we discuss “Revitalizing Wisconsin’s Downtowns” with Errin Welty, Downtown Development Program Manager with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). As our guest says, downtowns are not competing with the town next door anymore, they’re competing with a couch and Netflix. In our conversation with Errin, we learn […]
The post #LocalGovMatters 2.0 Episode 3: Revitalizing Wisconsin's Downtowns appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
Join #LocalGovMatters as we sit down with Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Craig Thompson to discuss the Multimodal Supplement Grant Program (MLS), as well as take a 10,000 foot view of the state of transportation here in Wisconsin. We discuss the breadth of issues WisDOT handles every day, from the DMV to the State […]
The post #LocalGovMatters 2.0 Episode 2: WisDOT Secretary Thompson Discusses the MLS Grant Program appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
It’s a new year and an election year at that….Join Wisconsin Counties Association Executive Director Mark O’Connell and League of Wisconsin Municipalities Executive Director Jerry Deschane as they have a lively conversation with co-hosts Michelle Thompson and Gail Sumi about what lies ahead in 2020 on the legislative front in this inaugural episode of LocalGovMatters […]
The post #LocalGovMatters 2.0 Episode 1: The Year Ahead with Mark O'Connell & Jerry Deschane appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.
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 […]
The post #LocalGovMatters 2.0 Launches! appeared first on #LocalGovMatters 2.0.