GoLocal Worcester PowerPlayer: City Manager Ed Augustus

Tuesday, May 05, 2015

GoLocal Worcester News Team

Ed Augustus

Each week, GoLocalWorcester shines the spotlight on one individual who is making an impact on the community. This week, we sat down with Ed Augustus, Worcester's City Manager.

Last year you made the move from interim City Manager to official City Manager of Worcester. You have over 20 years of experience in public service under your belt to bring to this position. Can you walk us through your past and how you found your way to your current role?

I’m a Main South kid who has always been interested in politics and public service. Being the city manager of Worcester is not something I ever really considered, but I’m honored to be in this job.

I got involved in politics very early: I was president of my class at St. John’s, then the youngest person ever elected to the Worcester School Committee. I really loved being on the school committee. I made it a point to visit every classroom in every school every single year. That way, I knew the issues at the classroom level. After that, I moved to Washington to work for the U.S. Department of Education. In 1998, I ran Rep. James McGovern’s re-election campaign. When we won, I went back to Washington to be his chief of staff. In 2004, I came back to run for the state senate, where I served for two terms. I came back to Worcester to work as director of government and community relations at Holy Cross. I’m proud of the improvements we made in relations with the community, and efforts the college made to be a better neighbor.

After few years at Holy Cross, I was approached by Mayor Petty about filling in as City Manager. I was happy to help out, and soon learned all the good you can do in this office. I was hooked, and I was tremendously honored when the City Council last year asked me to stay on permanently.

So, I went from the federal government, to the statehouse and now to City Hall. I’m the Benjamin Button of Worcester politics.

What are the biggest challenges a City Manager of Worcester faces? How do you plan to overcome those challenges?

The toughest part of the city manager’s job is balancing all of the competing, and worthwhile, interests in any issue. The most important skill you can have is to be a good listener. I try to understand where everyone is coming from and find that elusive middle ground. You can’t always make everyone happy, but if you make sure everyone is heard and considered, you can generally make a good decision.

What are some of the most pressing issues facing the city government currently?

The most pressing issue is the constant demand for city services vs. the capacity of our residents to pay for them. I could hire 50 more police officers, 100 more firefighters, 1,000 more teachers – but our taxpayers don’t have the ability to pay for all of that. So, my job is to find creative solutions. We need to continue to look for innovative ways to deliver everyday services at lower costs. That’s why we’ve installed new electronic parking meters that require less maintenance than the old coin-operated ones. It’s why we’re installing new energy-saving LED lighting in every single street light across the city. We also need to continue to look for partnerships with the state and federal government and private companies, as we do with the city’s summer jobs program.

Tell us about a day in your shoes.

The City Manager’s Office is busy, and 12-14 hour days are not uncommon. On any given day, you could have 10 different meetings scheduled on 10 different issues – and all of them could be vital to the city’s progress. And that’s just what you plan for! The breadth and depth of what the city manager’s portfolio is just amazing. It certainly gives me great respect for those who came before me.

What’s the best place to grab a coffee in Worcester?

There are so many great little coffee shops and cafes across the city; it’s hard to pick just one. But I always enjoy the Bean Counter on Highland Street.

Tell us something unique about you that no one knows.

I was once named an honorary Kentucky Colonel by the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. When I was working for the U.S. Department of Education, I spoke at an event in Lexington. Legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz spoke too, and we were both named honorary colonels.

What was your favorite music group when you were in high school?

Believe it or not: Journey.

Last book you read?

“The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson: The White House Years”, by Johnson’s former advisor, Joseph A. Califano, Jr. I am a huge history buff. Even for someone who is a student of history, I was amazed at just how many significant pieces of legislation LBJ was involved in. Pick any important issue – civil rights, poverty, immigration, the environment – and LBJ had a hand in it.

Videowall Image: Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus at PENTA Ribbon Cutting 1 : Pentamarketing1, Flickr