Free Agency in Local Government: A conversation with Brad Gotshall about protection, advocacy and reputation.

There is a polite fiction in local government that serving “at the pleasure of the governing body” rests securely on mutual trust. Often it does. Increasingly, it can feel more fragile.In today’s political climate, the employment relationship between elected officials and their chief administrative officer deserves a closer examination. What protections actually exist? Who advocates for the manager when circumstances shift?In this episode of Generation on the Rise, Eden Ratliff and Dave Pribulka sit down with Brad Gotshall to explore what it means to become, in his words, a “free agent.” They examine contracts and severance, and they also confront questions of reputation, professional identity, and the personal weight of transitions that can be political, strategic, or simply inevitable.MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Cold open, book banter, introductions04:30 – Brad’s background: elected official at 17 to professional manager09:30 – Transition to Warren County and “free agency”11:30 – Protecting yourself as a manager: personal and professional buckets13:30 – Contract negotiations: learning the hard way16:00 – Do managers need representation?19:00 – The loneliness of severance negotiations22:00 – Lower Paxton: no contract, negotiated exit26:00 – Recruiter’s role in negotiations31:00 – Severance pushback and board dynamics37:00 – Creative contract structures (Rehoboth example)39:30 – Should managers use agents?41:30 – Legal review vs. negotiation support43:00 – Preserving reputation under NDAs45:30 – Building a personal brand before crisis hits48:00 – No-fault divorce vs. political dismissal50:00 – Wrap-up and Part Two teaser