A Conversation with Local Government Icon: Peggy Merriss, Executive Director, Georgia City-County Management Association

By Pamela Antil, City Manager, Encinitas, CA

This interview is the second in the League’s “Icons in Local Government” series. In this edition, the League caught up with Peggy Merriss, former city manager and current Executive Director of the Georgia City-County Management Association. In this article, Peggy reflects on her career in public service, advice to her younger self, and Hallmark movies (don’t judge).

What are you most proud of achieving in your career or current position?

The people I have worked with who are both colleagues and friends.

There have been lots of articles about the value of mentors, as well as advocates and sponsors in women’s careers. Who has been an advocate, mentor, or sponsor for you? How did they help you in your career?

Cal Horton who was the Assistant City Manager in Decatur, GA who hired me as a barley 22-year-old, fresh from UNC and Curtis Branscome, the City Manager in Decatur who didn’t fire me after Cal hired me without letting him know. Both were dedicated to diversity and inclusion before it was a named thing. They made sure I was involved in projects I wanted to do and pushed my boundaries with things they knew I needed to do. They provided me with meaningful work and had my back when I rocked the boat. They introduced me to people I needed to know and encouraged me to be active by supporting professional development. In “The Person You Mean To Be” (mentioned below), Dolly Chugh calls this the “Pathways” method for inclusion. These are people who include us in spaces where there are not natural networks, avoid overexplaining and who are confident enough in themselves to redirect credit to where it is due even when others try to give it to them.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Use moisturizer and sunscreen everyday; celebrate success more and dwell on failures less; record your parents’ and grandparents’ stories.

What is a book title that you recommend that everyone read and why?

For non-fiction I have two: Old-school “Good to Great” by Jim Collins and my new favorite, “The Person You Mean To Be” by Dolly Chugh, and anything by Doris Kearns Goodwin is always a winner. For Fiction: “The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood.

What are 3 Fast Facts about you?