Authored by NLC intern Morgan Knight with support provided by Melissa Williams
Across the country, residents and leaders alike are struggling with rising incivility, intimidating behaviors and in some cases violent behavior towards those in public offices.
At a town hall hosted by NLC, in partnership with the American Psychological Association (APA), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the American Public Health Association (APHA), experts addressed the decline in civility and its impact on mental health, governance and community leadership.
The panel featured Dr. Bill Doherty, psychologist and co-founder of Braver Angels; Mayor Steve Patterson of Athens, Ohio and President of NLC; Julia Novak, CEO and Executive Director of ICMA; James Bridges, Director of Health and Human Services for Montgomery County, Maryland; and Matt Leighninger, Director of the Center for Democracy Innovation at the National Civic League.
The town hall, streamed on C-SPAN, sparked a series of questions from attendees, many of whom were grappling with disruptive behavior in council chambers, hostile public comments and internal bullying among elected officials. Experts responded with practical tools and policy recommendations aimed at helping local governments navigate these challenges.
Setting Standards for Elected Officials
One of the most pressing concerns mentioned was how to maintain civility among elected officials themselves. Panelists emphasized the importance of boards and councils developing clear behavioral standards before conflicts occur.
“Maintaining a calm presence is important in the face of heightened emotions,” said Dr. Doherty of Braver Angels. “Local leaders are passionate about their communities, and that passion can sometimes be misread. That’s why councils must develop clear behavioral standards in advance and hold each other accountable.”
NLC President Mayor Steve Patterson emphasized that when staff face incivility or bullying, managers must act swiftly to protect employees and remind governing bodies that, as employers, council members have a duty to treat their workforce with dignity and respect. He warned that failing to uphold this obligation undermines both morale and organizational culture.
Managing Public Interactions
For many public officials managing interactions with the public can also be fraught as they try to manage and prevent incivility from the public during government meetings. Mayor Patterson recommended setting expectations early by sharing guidelines for respectful participation at the beginning of every meeting, whether in person or hybrid.
When public comments become hostile or personal, the chair’s response is critical. Allowing disparaging remarks to stand unchallenged can weaken public trust, while prompt acknowledgment of incivility sends a clear signal of respect for staff and colleagues.
In more heated cases, calling for a recess can be an effective de-escalation tool, giving tempers time to cool and allowing the governing body to return with a restatement of behavioral expectations.
Rebuilding Trust and Promoting Civility in Polarized Times
Experts also address restoring trust and encouraging respectful dialogue following times marked by ongoing incivility, hostility or division within the community.
Local governments can play a unique role in having a distinctive opportunity to counteract national polarization by concentrating on community-specific concerns, facilitating dialogues around civility and creating standards grounded in common values instead of political partisanship.
Rebuilding trust after sustained incivility requires deliberate relationship-building. The recommendations were identifying and empowering respected voices from both sides of a conflict to encourage their own communities to move forward. These bridge-builders, once connected with counterparts, can help foster understanding and reduce hostility.
Understanding the Impact of Civility
Finally, experts examined the broader rise of misinformation, including the spread of “alternative facts.” They noted that policy-relevant facts are rooted in social trust and whether communities believe in the reliability of certain experts or institutions.
As incivility continues to rise in communities across the country, experts emphasized that local governments are both on the frontlines of the problem and uniquely positioned to lead solutions.
By setting clear standards, holding each other accountable and modeling civility even in tense moments, leaders can create environments where respectful dialogue and trust once again become the norm.
Morgan Knight is an intern at NLC, supporting the Center for Digital Engagement, Marketing & Communications. She is a senior at Howard University.
See You at City Summit 2025!
Civility is one of the themes at this year’s City Summit conference, to be held Nov. 20-22 in Salt Lake City, Utah. There’s still time to register!
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