Town Leaders Should Tell Others What’s Good About Town Government

Town officials across Wisconsin are justifiably proud of the contributions they make to the quality of life in our state. With little fanfare, they deliver efficient, high quality public services to 1.7 million Wisconsin citizens. But it's also important for town leaders to tell others about this record. Here are two suggestions on how to get started:

Tell Your Town’s Story: Most people (including newspaper editors, legislators and others who help shape public policies) simply don’t know how efficient and effective most town governments are. To counter this, put together a fact sheet about your town that summarizes its history, values, services and finances. Explain how your town helps its residents enjoy a high quality of life. Include testimonials from residents, business owners and others. Use the fact sheet to write letters to the editor, brief candidates for state office, speak to local civic groups and generally tell your story. Also include this information in resident newsletters and encourage them to tell your town’s story as well. If you have a web site, post it there as well.