Leadership and Legacy

Local politics is an example of both the best and worse in what John Gardner called the “American Experiment”.  Unlike national and state politics that are largely dysfunctional because of partisan positioning and dogma, local elected officials usually focus more on doing the people’s business.  Unfortunately this is not always the case. Although not partisan in nature, local politics are not exempt from political attack and motivation.  This is what I see as part of the worse example.

In spite of what looks like will be a particularly nasty campaign for reelection, I intend on focusing what I see as the best.  I believe that ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS should focus on building better communities and helping foster better quality of life for all of our citizens.  I believe in empowering citizens to take a more active role in their own governance and build on the concept of “We the People”.  These are constants in my system of values and in spite of what I may personally think of an issue, I was elected to represent the people, not my own motives nor those of special interest.

As I have stated many times before, Leadership should focus not on those who hold public office but on those people they serve. Although leaders need to protect the public interest, leadership is not attacking others, nor is it motivated by political attacks or interest.  This is why many people in our nation are equally upset with both political parties and all of congress.  Leadership motivates and empowers others to act and define a vision for the future they wish to realize. Leaders then work to empower those citizens and to help them build the capacity to make that vision become a reality. Leadership is in short awakening the best in people and their community.

Leaders work to engage people and their energies rather than give them sound bite answers and quick fix solutions to today’s issues.  A leader inspires and builds up those around him (or her) to help them become leaders in their own right.  A leader leads by example and understands that their own actions speak louder than any words they might say.  I hope that as Mayor I have always proven to be a leader.

Two things a leader must strive to accomplish. Make positive things happen that might not otherwise occur and to work to prevent negative things from occurring that ordinarily may occur.  An example of this is my work to mitigate the threat of flooding from the White River and my work to build capacity in our community’s ability to respond to a disaster.  A leader might not always be successful and may often have to fight a steep uphill battle, but a leader is not interested in what might be easy, but what is right.

I believe in our community and will always work to make our community stronger.  I believe that the community of Pacific is a living entity in which citizens, business and government all interact with each other to bring about change and progress.  I know the power of one person working to make positive change, inspiring others to join with them and mobilize to accomplish common goals in a sense of “We” and Community. Our community is capable of many things when allowed to unite.  My job as Mayor is to work to empower others and bring those parts of our community together.  It is to be a good servant of the people and a steward of our community. My greatest honor is to serve our citizens and inspire other citizens to be leaders themselves.  That would be a great legacy for me to leave for our future generations.

An Open letter to Pacific City Council Members on the need for Emergency Management Training

 

I feel it is important to address some comments made at the City Council Meeting on March 28^th.  These comments concerned the need for elected leaders, such as myself to take emergency management training.  These comments ranged from “This degree and type of training is beyond the requirements for the office of Mayor” to “I think we need to draw a line in the sand and decide when enough is enough. I think our city is safe enough”.  Not only do I adamantly disagree with these comments, I wish to point out that maybe the problem is not me taking too much emergency management training, but you not taking enough of it.

The National Incident Management System requirements call for anyone who might be involved in the operations or management of a disaster to meet minimum levels of training.  Now you may or may not have met these minimum levels, however could you still pass the entry level ICS 100 test?  And this standard is just the minimum requirement.  Just taking an online class and then now following it up with additional training or

As Naomi Zack, Ethics Professor at the University of Oregon writes in her book Ethics for Disaster “All residents and Governmental Officials should be prepared for probable disasters in their localities, and be prepared to respond to and recover from them.”  She goes on to state “Observers and Victims of disasters should hold those who are officially charged with responding to natural and artificial disasters, morally and legally responsible for their malice, negligence or failures in leadership.”  Does the failure of an elected official to seek out training in order to protect the interest of those people they have sworn an oath to serve constitute negligence?  I will leave that for you to decide, however I do see it as a failure of leadership.

I understand this is a political season.  I understand that parties who only wish to see me replaced as Mayor will use any excuse to try and bring me down.  I understand politics and expect this.  However I believe the citizens of this city deserve more from you than political games.  I have stated many times my how my travel for training is paid for, pointed out that it is a revenue neutral issue for local tax payers and even whole heartedly support any investigation into the Mayor’s travel fund, the value of my training or if those who contributed to the mayor’s travel fund gained any benefit from making a donation.  I was the one who first contacted our insurance company asking for that investigation and audit just to clear the air and remove any doubt from our citizens. I am proud of what I have accomplished in the past, I am proud of what I am doing now and I am proud of what I will continue to do in the future.  That is because I put more than my own self interest into serving our citizens.

As for the claims that I am taking these classes for my own benefit and not for the benefit of our citizens, I ask you this.  Do we not encourage our own employees to take continuing education?  Do we not all believe in what General George Washington stated that “All Great Leaders must continue to be Life Long Learners”?  Do I gain a benefit for taking these classes? Yes, but that gain is more than matched by the benefit given back to our community.  What I learn in training classes has been applied to our community. It is applied back indirectly through continued refinements of our emergency planning and it is applied back directly in the training of our staff and citizens.  I should also point out that my taking this training is done at a personal sacrifice to me by loss of wages, separation from family time and hours of homework done to support the classes I take.

 I have heard comments made by some of you (City council Members) that they could not understand how my suiting up in a Level A Haz Mat Suit and participating in a simulated disaster applied to my job as Mayor.  I ask you if you understand the difficulties our responders face wearing such personal protective equipment?   Do you think it is important that we as policy leaders take into account those difficulties?  I have no problem justifying taking these classes or any other class I have taken.

Now I will continue to take classes as I see fit.  I take my duties to protect the interest of our citizens seriously and will not let you or anyone else divert me from that.  I will continue to provide training to our citizens and our staff.  I will continue to write the disaster exercises we conduct as part of our training and exercise program and provide them to our city at no cost.  I do this because I serve our community first, not political whims or a campaign for personal gain.  I close by repeating this question to you.  Is the problem that I take too much emergency management training, or that you do not take enough.  I believe that our citizens we serve know the answer to that question.  I have no concerns leaving it to them.

Leadership

I believe that anyone who runs for office must have a true understanding of what “Leadership” means.  Leadership is not something that is magically given you when you are sworn into office.  It is not something that you can just flip a switch and you have it.  Leadership is much much more.

Leadership is accepting and performing the obligations of your office.  It is being willing to take the “High Road” not just the “Easy Road”.  As George Van Valkenburg stated, “Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching”.

I hope that I have always acted as a leader.  I know I have tried.  I believe that a leader must lead by example, whether they intend to or not.  I know that I have always lived by the motto “I will never ask anyone to do anything I am not doing myself”.  That is why it has always been important to me to come down off of the pedestal that some people place elected leaders and work hands on for what I believe.

I believe that leaders do not force people to follow them; they invite those people on a journey.  A true leader does not want to create followers; a true leader wants to create more leaders.  I hope my efforts of empowering citizens to take a more active role in our community stands testament to that belief.

I believe that leaders understand that they will at times stumble, but also know they must always be willing to get back up and continue every journey.  I willingly admit that I have made mistakes over my term as Mayor.  I know that I will most likely make a few more mistakes before I step aside for the next leaders.  But I also know that if I only focus on the past:  If I only look to what mistakes were made and not to how to do better; nothing will improve. 

I hope that I have earned your respect as a leader.  I hope I have earned your vote as I run for reelection.  If I have not, I hope you will sit down with me and talk with me.  My only goal is to provide the citizens of Pacific and through them citizens of our nation with good governance and good leadership.

A Copy of the Press Release on Acceptance of CHDS program

Pacific Mayor Richard Hildreth, long known for his training and work in Emergency Management / Homeland Security issues, has been accepted into the Executive Leaders Program at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security (www.CHDS.us).  This program, one of the most competitive educational programs in our nation, provides the educational opportunities for our nation’s homeland security leaders to develop the strategies, policies and organizational elements needed to defeat terrorism.  As Mayor Hildreth was appointed by the Governor to represent all Washington State cities on the State Emergency Management Council, this program will benefit all citizens in our state.

The Program consists of four, 4 ½ day sessions conducted over a nine month period, each with an evolving topic in Homeland Security.  The Naval Postgraduate Schools, Center for Homeland Defense and Security covers all travel, lodging and curriculum cost.

As Stated, this is one of the most competitive programs in our nation.  The selection committee looks at the relevancy and level of the applicant’s positions and homeland security responsibilities as well as the overall homeland security experience and knowledge they bring to the program.  In addition, a major objective of the program is to establish relationships between executives across all disciplines, agencies, and levels of government so they can assist in the development of homeland security policies, strategies and plans to solve problems.

“It is a great honor to be accepted to this program”, stated Mayor Hildreth, “Combined with other training I have received, I hope to help the City of Pacific, our region and our nation become better prepared and more resilient in facing all hazards, including elements  of terrorism.”

For additional information on other Emergency Management / Homeland Security classes Mayor Hildreth has taken go http://mayorrich.blogspot.com/

Emergency Managment / Homeland Security Classes I have taken

I was asked the other day to elaborate on what classes I have taken in emergency management and how I plan on applying the skills learned.  I have long since stopped counting the many online classes I have taken, but I have completed over 50 separate online courses including those through the Emergency Management Institute, Louisiana State University, Texas A&M, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, New Mexico Tech,  and the Nevada Test Site’s Counter Terrorism Operations Support.  In addition I have attended many resident classes and they are as follows:

Classes at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg Maryland,

Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC) Recovery and Mitigation

Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC) Planning and Response

Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC) Hazardous Materials

Incident Command Train the Trainer

(MEEP Program classes)

Discussion Based Exercises Design and Evaluation

Exercise Program Management and Control Simulation Course

Operational Based Exercise Design and Evaluation

(Master Trainer Program classes)

Management and Supervision of Training

Performance and Needs Assessments

Instructional Design

Classes at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston Alabama

Management of Civil Actions / Threat Incidents (MCATI)

Incident Command of CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive) incidents / Hands on Training (IC/HOT)

Technical Emergency Response Team training (TERT)

Instructor Training Certification (ITC)

Hazard Assessment and Risk Management (HARM)

Classes at Texas Engineering Extension (TEEX) at Texas A&M University

Enhanced All Hazards Incident Management / Unified Command

I have also taken instate classes including Continuity of Operation Planning TTT, CERT TTT and the Local Governments Role in Disaster Recovery.

Now two things are consistent about all of these programs; first they were all provided without cost the City of Pacific.  These programs are all federally funded and all transportation cost, lodging and in most cases food are paid by DHS. (At EMI a food ticket is $95.00 for the week).  The second issue is they all bring back a benefit to the taxpayers in our community.  Either directly like the Train the Trainer programs or indirectly by adding to skills and information provided in our emergency planning.

I have stated previously, “If I did not see a benefit to our citizens for me taking these classes, I would not waste my time taking them”.  Unlike if we send other city personnel to these classes, I do not get lost wages for attendance.  Although I may use these skills for a future profession in the distant future, my goal is to bring these back for our cities benefit now. 

A Call for Public Action - Do you Care About Emergency Management Training

So now the latest attacks on me are coming through one of the Pacific City Council Members. It seems a certain City Council Member is questioning my attending Emergency Management Training and how this is in the public’s interest.  I believe that most people should understand the value my taking training has brought this city, but let’s entertain him a bit.

When I took over as Mayor we had a ¼ page boilerplate emergency management plan that was as realistic as BP’s Gulf Coast Oil Spill Plan.  We now have a very comprehensive document that not only meets, but exceeds Federal requirements.  We are now training staff and citizens to meet the goals of our plan and to meet the requirements of State and Federal Laws.  And if that is not enough, following the floods of 2009 our city activated a response that was 2^nd to none in helping our neighbors that were impacted by this flood.  So has it been a value to our citizens that I take Emergency Management Training? I will let them decide.

Now a question I have for this Council Member.  Homeland Security Presidential Directives 5 and 8 established certain requirements for local jurisdictions including requirements for elected officials (who are members of the policy group) to take ICS training (Incident Command System).  In addition the City of Pacific’s NIMS compliance plan, adopted with the CEMP last January (and voted on by him) again requires All Council Members to be trained to a certain level in ICS and sets a timeline for meeting that training.  How come this Council Member has not met any of those requirements?

Now this Council Member has made attacks against me behind closed doors.  I want this played out in the open.  I have no problem defending my taking classes and in fact most people I have talked to are glad that I do take the time to do so.  I think it is time for the citizens of this city to stand up and let council know what they think.  Write letters, come down to meetings, and make your voice known.  Do you want a city where elected officials do nothing to prepare this city or one where its elected officials work proactively?

Letters can be addressed care of the:

Pacific City Council President

100 3^rd Ave SE

Pacific, WA 98047

Public Comment is taken at the beginning of each regular meeting (2^nd and 4^th Monday’s)

My Motivation for taking Emergency Managment Training

In everything that we do we have certain motivating factors that push us in certain directions.  Whatever that factor is, a reward, a good paying job or just the satisfaction of helping make this world a better place, it is important that we always remember what we wish our end result to be.

In politics, I once figured I would use this office as Mayor as a springboard to the State Legislature or other higher office.  I have always enjoyed helping others and believed that being a servant elected leader was the way for me to do that.  As I have held office, I learned that there are many ways to serve my fellow citizens; including making the city I serve more prepared to face and recover from disasters.  This desire to protect our city has become one of my motivating factors.

With disasters being a low probability event, some have questioned why I spend so much time working on emergency management. First I do not see disasters as a “what if” question but as a “when”. Since taking office in 2004, our city has been involved in five Presidentially Declared Disasters, three additional flooding events and numerous wind storms. Over this past decade we can add multiple earthquakes, additional storms and issues such as hazardous material spills.  Our city faces disasters on a somewhat regular basis.  I want to make sure that our city, and our citizens and businesses are prepared to face, survive and quickly recover from any type of disaster, natural or manmade.

As part of our emergency preparedness planning we have created the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan or CEMP.  This document outlines the overall direction of our efforts and establishes certain requirements for the city to include in its preparedness efforts including changes in federal policy.  Among these requirements are compliance with NIMS, established by Homeland Security Presidential Directives; a Training and Exercise Plan and most recently requirements to integrate citizen and business preparedness. As Pacific is a small city with limited resources, we had to be creative in how we accomplished these efforts.

When I first started taking emergency management training, it was to learn the skills needed to write our CEMP.  As was seen with BP’s Gulf Oil Spill plan, you cannot just take a template, change a few names and call it good.  I had to learn how a plan worked, how you plan for and respond to various threats and most of all what make the difference in saving people’s lives and property.  This is why I applied for and took several classes including the IEMC (Integrated Emergency Management classes) at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute(EMI).  But writing our plan was only a small part of what we needed to do.  The requirements for getting training and participation in exercises extended beyond just me.

When President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directives 5 and 8 he created the requirements for jurisdictions to meet the requirements of the National Incident Management System (NIMS).  Included in those requirements is minimal training in Incident Command or ICS by all parties that may be involved in emergency response.  ICS is the command and management system, originally designed by Wildland fire but now used across this nation by all responders.  The problem is how can we cost effectively provide this required training to our staff and citizens with our limited resources.  This is why I took the Train the Trainer program at EMI and became an ICS instructor.  Since taking that class our city has provided free classes on ICS 100 and 200 as well as assisted in other training programs in our region. But Incident Command is not the only type of training needed to prepare our city.

Our city is also required to have a regular training and exercise plan that is strategic, encompasses our CEMP and truly builds upon our capabilities as a community.  Again, I looked at our city’s resources and decided that our best bet was for me to take the classes needed to write, conduct and evaluate disaster exercises.  FEMA’s Master Exercise Practioner (MEP) program was the answer.  This program first requires participants to take three specific online courses and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Protocol (HSEEP) course and then apply to the MEP program at EMI.  I was accepted and participated in Series 11, one of the first elected officials to ever complete this course.  The MEP program contains three week long classes at EMI with more than 200 hours of homework designing proficiency demonstration projects in between.  Since graduating from this program, city staff members have participated in workshops, tabletop exercises and unfortunately real events that have taken the place of requirements for functional exercises. We have been able to meet the requirements in spite of the limited resources we have because we have been able to do so much more in house.

Finally as we move into a phase of increased participation by our citizens, it is important that we have training and exercises for them as well.  This is why I am participating in the Master Trainer Program at EMI.  This is a series of six classes, five of which are resident classes, and completion of a Practicum that demonstrates an understanding and proficiency in developing training programs.  This is not just teaching programs that are currently out there such as ICS and CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams), but looking at performance gaps, identifying training needs and designing of programs to close those gaps and fill those needs.  Even in this, I have chosen to not take the easy way out for my practicum, and have been developing a training program that may end up with national implications.  Training of elected officials and other policy group members in what they need to do to prepare their jurisdictions.  The impact of this locally is that working with the new Citizen Advisory board I am putting together on Emergency Management, we will be able to assess training gaps in our community and design programs to address those needs, specific to our capabilities.

Other courses I have taken including the Enhanced Unified Command Class at Texas A&M, and the Hazard Assessment and Response Management Class at the Center for Domestic Preparedness are more to gain a better understanding of skill sets needed and include them in our planning.  All of these courses are funded by the Department of Homeland Security and do not cost local tax payers other than for a participant meal ticket.  These programs are available for responders, staff and elected officials across this nation to go to.  All they need to do is apply themselves and take the time to take the prerequisites and attend the programs.  We have sent our Deputy Emergency Operations Manager to EMI for an IEMC class and we are sending our Public Information Officer (PIO) this summer for an advanced PIO training.  I would love to see some of our City Council take the time to attend as well, but have not seen the interest to date.  Hopefully that may change this year.

So now that you understand what motivates me, to dedicate so much of my life in this type of training, you will better understand what I am trying to accomplish.  I want our city to have a well written plan that not only outlines what we need to do to respond to a disaster but also guides our efforts to train our citizens and staff.  I want our training and exercise programs to not only meet the minimal requirements of federal laws, but also defendable as they are appropriately designed and taught. What I truly wish to see though is that other elected officials follow in my footsteps, take the time to attend these classes and build the skills they need to respond to disasters.  If when I leave office, all I am remembered for is preparing our city and our citizens to face disaster then my time and efforts will have been a success.  Because that is what my motivating factors are.