Cody City Administrator Stays “Politically Homeless” in Newsletter Column

Amid a wave of partisan political conflicts, Cody’s City Administrator Barry Cook reminds residents that local government tends to be neutral, solution-oriented, and trustworthy.

Always a hot-button issue, politics is hotter than ever in 2022. Between a divisive primary season and the upcoming midterm election, people across the nation are arguing – loudly and sometimes aggressively – about the future of their homes, their states, and the country.

In the City of Cody’s September 2022 edition of its monthly e-newsletter, City Administrator Barry Cook published a column to address the partisan issues dominating the United States.

Courtesy City of Cody

While Cook makes no statement on state or national issues, he emphasizes that local government operates differently.

The full text of Cook’s column is printed below:

Are you Red or Blue?

In today’s world, political polarization is feeding on itself. For example, we can easily choose to read and view only information that supports our own opinions.

The increased polarization within these “echo chambers” can foster dehumanizing language, increased incivility, and extreme ideas. When considering partisan issues, we have become so divided that we do not trust one another.

Thankfully, local government remains non-partisan. People that might very well be divided on national issues are not necessarily divided on local issues; thus, trust in local government remains high.

This is due to a number of factors, including:

1. 1. Local governments rely on relationships, collaboration, and compromise to solve problems and provide services.
   2. Local issues are almost exclusively non-partisan.
   3. Local government officials try to use their roles to build community trust and strong relationships rather than contribute to bickering.
   4. The public is often unaware of the limits of the local government’s authority.

Being non-partisan will not prevent a local government from confronting controversy or partisan disagreement, but freedom from a partisan environment enhances a local government’s trust within the community and increases its ability to solve issues and provide services.

As a City Administrator, I remain “politically homeless.”

– Barry Cook, Cody City Administrator