Matt Lehrman is a civic facilitator and co-founder of Social Prosperity Partners, a national practice specializing in strategic planning, mediation, and public dialogue for governing councils and boards. He can be reached at Matt@SocialProsperity.us or (602) 622-7694.

Government works best when people help shape solutions, not just oppose decisions. Yet today, cynicism runs deep. For local leaders, this distrust isn’t an abstract challenge: It fuels efforts to weaken their ability to govern effectively, make strategic decisions, and serve their communities with confidence.

Local government is where democracy is most tangible. It’s where people interact with decisions that shape daily life — where potholes are filled, parks are maintained, and community planning takes shape. When local government functions well, trust in governance strengthens. But when people see inefficiency, exclusion, or dysfunction, skepticism spreads, reinforcing the idea that government cannot be trusted.

The crisis of trust

Public discourse today is driven by polarization, misinformation, and civic detachment. Too often, residents engage with government only in opposition. A growing number of people reflexively resist government action — not because they oppose the outcome, but because they distrust the process itself. But what local leaders now face is more than just skepticism: It’s a seemingly coordinated movement to delegitimize government’s role in solving problems.

This effort isn’t about improving governance; it’s about hollowing it out, making it less effective, and further agitating public distrust. Across the country, organized efforts are working to strip funding from local government services, undermine civic institutions, and erode public confidence in government’s ability to function as a tool for collective problem-solving.

Since 2018, I’ve witnessed how skepticism, disengagement, and division strain governance at every level. In red and blue districts, urban and rural communities alike, leaders face the same challenge: fostering civic engagement, maintaining governance, and pushing back against growing distrust. It’s a systemic issue affecting communities everywhere.

When people don’t feel heard, they become obstructionists. Frustration turns into outrage, not because of any single policy, but because of deeper fears — fear of losing control, fear of change, or fear that decisions are being made without them.

For local leaders, the challenge is twofold: First, engage skeptics in meaningful dialogue before their disillusionment hardens into opposition. Second, build a culture of trust that prevents cynicism from taking hold in the first place. That means rethinking how decisions are made, communicated, and implemented — ensuring engagement is not an afterthought, but an integral part of governance itself.

Trust in government isn’t built through authority alone. It requires inclusion, transparency, and shared responsibility. Too often, local leaders focus on explaining decisions rather than engaging the public in shaping them. When people feel excluded, skepticism deepens, and opposition hardens. Governance works best when people see themselves as active participants, not outsiders to the process.

To restore confidence in local government, leaders should focus on three key strategies.

1. Make participation the norm, not the exception

Public engagement is often reactive. People show up only when they’re upset. But just as maintaining infrastructure and public safety are core municipal responsibilities, so too is managing the “ideastructure” — the systems and processes that shape how people participate in governance.

Local governments should create ongoing, accessible opportunities for residents to engage before decisions reach a crisis point. Whether through participatory budgeting, citizen advisory boards, or interactive town halls, engagement must be embedded into governance — not treated as a procedural afterthought. A well-designed ideastructure ensures that civic participation is continuous, constructive, and integral to decision-making.

2. Shift from outreach to two-way dialogue

Public meetings often feel like battlegrounds, with residents lining up at microphones to vent frustrations. But what if these encounters were reframed? Instead of positioning government officials as defenders of decisions, leaders can facilitate horizontal discussions among neighbors rather than top-down outreach. These mutual exchanges foster trust, understanding, and collaboration. By structuring small-group discussions, leveraging digital platforms, and engaging communities directly, local governments can turn conflict into constructive problem-solving.

3. Restore a shared sense of purpose

In an era of deep cynicism, leaders should remind their communities that local government is not an adversary — it is a collective effort. Municipalities exist not to impose rules but to help people recognize and solve shared challenges. By framing civic engagement around problem-solving rather than power struggles, local governments can shift the narrative from distrust to partnership.

Building a future of civic confidence

The health of democracy depends on trust, and trust begins where government is closest to the people. Restoring confidence in government is not an abstract challenge — it is an urgent, ongoing responsibility. A community that has confidence in its local government is more likely to support bold initiatives, embrace innovation, and work through disagreements constructively. A community that lacks confidence will resist even the most well-intentioned efforts, viewing every decision as a battle.

Civic trust is not a given; it must be actively cultivated. That means ensuring transparency in decision-making, fostering respectful and inclusive conversations, and engaging the public in meaningful ways. It also means recognizing that skepticism, frustration, and even disagreement are not threats to democracy. They are symptoms of a deeper need: the need to feel connected, respected, and heard.

But today’s local leaders should do more than foster engagement; they should stand firm against efforts to weaken government itself. Defending the role of public institutions is not about preserving power; it is about upholding the principles of governance that leaders have sworn to faithfully protect. Faithfulness to the Constitution is not just about sincerity; it is about actively strengthening the very systems that allow communities to function and thrive. Effective leadership isn’t about avoiding disagreement; it’s about making space for it in ways that strengthen, rather than fracture, communities.

Local government has the unique opportunity — and obligation — to lead by example. By demonstrating openness, responsiveness, and a commitment to shared problem-solving, local leaders can reinforce the fundamental promise of democracy: Government is not a force imposed on the people, but a tool through which communities solve problems together.

Local leaders are not just administrators of civic trust; they are its guardians. Now, more than ever, they must act as champions of the institutions they serve.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of Western City, the League of California Cities, or its members. Are you interested in submitting an op-ed on an issue important to city leaders? Send a short pitch to editor@westerncity.com.