What does it look like to lead a city when national politics dominate the headlines, communities are increasingly polarized, and residents arrive at city hall with deep mistrust of government?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Graham Mitchell, City Manager of El Cajon, California, to explore the lessons of a career that’s spanned small towns, growing suburbs, and now one of the most diverse cities in the country. From his early years in Washington, D.C., watching federal leaders up close, to discovering the power of local government as an intern, Graham’s journey is a case study in leadership, resilience, and impact.

We talk about:

• Fit over prestige – why bigger isn’t always better, and how the right cultural fit creates lasting impact.

• Building trust with immigrant communities – from tours of city hall to restoring confidence in public institutions.

• Innovation under constraint – how budget crises led to unexpected breakthroughs in Lemon Grove.

• Politics in city hall – what happens when national polarization seeps into local councils, and how leaders can rise above it.

• Saying yes before you feel ready – the mindset that helped Graham move from intern to city manager by age 31.

This conversation is a reminder that while Washington may dominate the news cycle, it’s in city halls where trust is built, lives are changed, and the future of our communities is decided.

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