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Written by Jim Schutz, a long-time City Manager of San Rafael, The Mayor Has a Hammer is a poetic tribute to the everyday heroism of local government. As Schutz tells us, "The people who work in local government are my heroes. All of them. Ask them why they got into local government, and they most often talk about helping people and improving communities. They are capable and innovative and do thousands of things that improve people's lives, often without fanfare, recognition, or even awareness. They deserve to be celebrated in the most profound way - which is why I turned to poetry."
Finally - a book that gets it. These poems capture the soul of local government with honesty, heart, and just the right amount of humor. If you've ever served your community - as an elected official or as staff - you'll feel seen, understood, and proud. And if you haven't, this collection offers a rare and moving window into what it's really like to do this work: the quiet frustrations, the small triumphs, and the deep commitment that keeps us coming back.
- Kate Colin, Mayor, City of San Rafael, California
It's rare in poetry to be privy to the minute particulars of a given profession. As the former city manager of one of the Bay Area's lovelier cities, though one not without its civic problems, Jim Schutz acts as our Virgil through the not-so-divine comedy of running a municipality. His tone can be biting, whimsical, impassioned, and/or funny, but his disposition is always one of deep concern for "the commons," and a profound appreciation of those who serve our local interests. As Jim says in his preface, these are really love poems to a work force too many take for granted. So, let him entertain you as he informs you. In these benighted times, maybe you'll find yourself among "Those optimists who inhale conflict/and exhale unity."
- Thomas Centolella, author of Almost Human
Who knew local government could be poetry? Jim Schutz did! This gem of a book makes you feel the joy, pain, and sheer craziness that come with being a public servant in these turbulent times.
- Kip Harkness, former Deputy City Manager, City of San Jose, California
More than ever in these times, we need those who honor words for their precision and beauty. Jim Schutz has done just that. He has explored the craft of poetry and brought it into City Hall, into the offices of government workers who don't get enough praise for their tireless work. We thank him for his world of "pensions, Ford Fusions, fluorescent lights, taxes, and gavels in the small chambers of democracy."
- Kathy Evans, author of Trespassers Welcome and Imagination Comes to Breakfast
