12-09-2025 3:12pm

What The Public Should Expect From A Public Leader: A Civic Guide To Ethical, Effective, And Accountable Leadership by Dr Shellie Bowman Sr

John Williams Editor

Photo by Kelli Dougal on Unsplash

Public leadership is not merely a position conferred by election. It is a responsibility entrusted by the people, exercised through power that directly affects lives, livelihoods, and long-term opportunity. Whether at the local, state, or federal level, elected officials shape systems that govern education, health, public safety, economic mobility, and civil rights. For this reason, the personal characteristics of a public leader are not incidental. They are determinative.
For voters, understanding what effective and ethical public leadership looks like is essential to making informed electoral decisions. For candidates, these same characteristics serve as a developmental guide, clarifying what the public rightfully expects of those who seek to govern. This article outlines core leadership characteristics grounded in behavioral scholarship and public administration theory, illustrated through contemporary and relatable examples, and framed through the lens of public service to the whole community.

To finish the Article or read the archives of articles by Public Agenda and Dr Shellie Bowman Sr.

https://substack.com/@drshellie/note/p-181093066?r=va8ka&utm_medium=ios…

The archives of articles

https://open.substack.com/pub/drshellieb?r=va8ka&utm_medium=ios

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Public Agenda is dedicated to delivering truth. Our work is rooted in scholarship, the people’s perspective, and democracy. As stewards of democracy, we examine the inner workings of government to reveal how decisions shape the lives of everyday Americans. When policies and practices honor fairness, equity, and human dignity, we advocate to strengthen them. When they fall short, we challenge them with integrity, ensuring government “gets it right” for the people it serves. Through rigorous analysis, lived perspectives, and a commitment to resilience, Public Agenda amplifies the voices of citizens and rebuilds trust in leadership for a more perfect union.