LocalGovMatters

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#LocalGovMatters Episode 14: UW Economic Impact Report Discussion Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with University of Wisconsin Vice Chancellor of University Relations Craig Thompson to discuss the 2026 Economic Impact Report and what that means for UW-Madison, the economy and all of Wisconsin.

#LocalGovMatters Episode 13: WisPolitics/State Affairs Jeff Mayers Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Jeff Mayers, president of WisPolitics.com/State Affairs, where the discussion looks at their new partnership with the State Affairs network, the current happenings at the State Capitol, and what the 2026 election is shaping up to be, including a contested gubernatorial race.

Resources
WisPolitics.com/State Affairs

Wisconsin Counties Association
www.wicounties.org

https://media.blubrry.com/localgovmatters/content.blubrry.com/localgovmatters/LocalGovMatters20250819.mp3

Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.

A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on August 19, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin.

The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 13: WisPolitics/State Affairs Jeff Mayers appeared first on #LocalGovMatters.

#LocalGovMatters Episode 12: One-on-One with Jefferson County’s Michael Luckey Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Jefferson County Administrator Michael Luckey, as he discusses his new role, important county initiatives, and exciting economic development efforts that are positioning Jefferson County for success today and in the future.

Resources
Jefferson County Wisconsin Website
Thrive Economic Development (ThriveEd)
FAB Innovation Campus

Uniquely Wisconsin Jefferson County Videos: Season Three
The Artists Behind Trek’s Project One Bikes: Cycling in Waterloo
How William Hoard Created the Dairy State: Jefferson County’s Hoard’s Dairyman
Lifeline for You: Jefferson County’s Brand-New Youth Stabilization Program
Wisconsin Counties Association
#LocalGovMatters Website

Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association.

A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on July 1, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin.

The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 12: One-on-One with Jefferson County’s Michael Luckey appeared first on #LocalGovMatters.

#LocalGovMatters Episode #11: A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012 Feb 16, 2025

Show notes

#LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, sit down with Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp as he discussed the latest report, “A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012.”

Wisconsin’s income tax, the largest source of revenue for state government, has undergone significant change since 2012. This report, A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012, explores the impact of the many tax rate cuts on taxpayers and on Wisconsin’s tax rank nationally. It also examines how the state’s changing demographics have impacted affected collections.

Resources
Forward Analytics Report: “A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012”
Forward Analytics Website
Wisconsin Counties Association

#LocalGovMatters Website
https://localgovmatters.wicounties.org/

Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on February 10, 2025 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.

The post #LocalGovMatters Episode #11: A Decade of Change: Wisconsin’s Income Tax Since 2012 appeared first on #LocalGovMatters.

#LocalGovMatters Episode #10: Create Wisconsin: Arts, Community, Economy Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Create Wisconsin Executive Director Anne Katz to discuss the vital role arts play in our economy, our schools and our communities.

We discuss the upcoming legislative session, what communities around Wisconsin are doing to embrace the arts as a part of their core mission and what you can do to learn more about the important mission of Create Wisconsin.

Resources
Create Wisconsin Website
Create Wisconsin Facebook
Create Wisconsin Instagram
Create Wisconsin X/Twitter

June 2023 Wisconsin Counties Magazine: “The Creative Economy: Fostering a Path to Innovation”
Wisconsin Counties Association Website
Forward Analytics Website

Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.

A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on November 19, 2024 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.

The post #LocalGovMatters Episode #10: Create Wisconsin: Arts, Community, Economy appeared first on #LocalGovMatters.

#LocalGovMatters Episode #9: On the Brink: Probing the Upcoming Senior Care Challenges with Forward Analytics Dospoy Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Resources

Forward Analytics Report: “On the Brink: Probing the Upcoming Senior Care Challenges”
Forward Analytics Report: “The Birth Dearth: Falling Fertility Rates, Fewer Babies”
Forward Analytics Website
Wisconsin Counties Association Website

Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.

A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on October 2, 2024 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.

The post #LocalGovMatters Episode #9: On the Brink: Probing the Upcoming Senior Care Challenges with Forward Analytics Dospoy appeared first on #LocalGovMatters.

#LocalGovMatters Episode 8: Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Marquette University Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin to discuss their latest poll on the national political landscape, as well as talk about the redistricting maps recently signed into law by Governor Tony Evers.

Resources
New Marquette Law School Poll national survey finds Trump at 51%, Biden at 49% in head-to-head match up; each leads primary challenger by more than 50 points.
Marquette University Law School Poll
Wisconsin Counties Association
#LocalGovMatters Website

Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.

A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on February 26, 2024 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.

The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 8: Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin appeared first on #LocalGovMatters.

#LocalGovMatters Episode 7: Director Knapp Discusses K-12 on the Ballot: Using Referenda to Fund Public Schools Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Dale Knapp, Director of Forward Analytics to discuss their latest report, “K-12 on the Ballot: Using Referenda to Fund Public Schools.”
Resources
Forward Analytics Report: “K-12 on the Ballot: Using Referenda to Fund Public Schools”
Forward Analytics Website
Wisconsin Counties Association Website

Show Ideas?
Contact #LcalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on November 27, 2023 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.

The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 7: Director Knapp Discusses K-12 on the Ballot: Using Referenda to Fund Public Schools appeared first on #LocalGovMatters.

#LocalGovMatters Episode 6: An Impactful Leadership Conversation with Dr. Tim Rahschulte Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Dr. Tim Rahschulte, co-founder and executive vice president of the Professional Development Academy. He is a nationally recognized individual on the topic of leadership and discusses the current state of affairs in the workplace, what makes for effective leaders and challenges faced along the way, from the C-Suite to frontline leaders to employees.

Resources
Professional Development Academy Website
NACo High Performance Leadership Academy
NACo Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership Academy
Dr. Marshall Goldsmith Book: “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.”

Show Ideas?
Contact #LcalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.
A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on November 8, 2023 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.

The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 6: An Impactful Leadership Conversation with Dr. Tim Rahschulte appeared first on #LocalGovMatters.

#LocalGovMatters Episode 5: Forward Analytics Kevin Dospoy on “Priced Out: The Steep Cost of Childcare in Wisconsin” Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

Join #LocalGovMatters co-hosts, WCA President & CEO Mark O’Connell and WCA Communications Consultant Michelle Gormican Thompson, as they sit down with Forward Analytics Deputy Director Kevin Dospoy to discuss the latest report, “Priced Out: The Steep Cost of Childcare in Wisconsin.” We discuss in depth the study, the challenges facing both parents as well as providers, and what impacts this childcare crisis means for the future of our entire state, regardless of if you have young children or not.

Resources
Forward Analytics Report: “Priced Out: The Steep Cost of Childcare in Wisconsin”
Forward Analytics Website: www.forward-analytics.net
Wisconsin Counties Association website: www.wicounties.org

Show Ideas?
Contact #LocalGovMatters co-host Michelle Gormican Thompson of the Wisconsin Counties Association with show ideas.

A special thanks to Jackie Johnson for sound editing and to WCA’s Ann Marie Austin for her technical support. This episode was recorded on October 6, 2023 at the WCA Studio in Madison, Wisconsin.

The post #LocalGovMatters Episode 5: Forward Analytics Kevin Dospoy on “Priced Out: The Steep Cost of Childcare in Wisconsin” appeared first on #LocalGovMatters.

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