Sanford city staff on podcast urge young people to consider local government careers and heed generational lessons

A recent episode of the City of Sanford’s podcast brought together four city employees to talk about why they work in local government, what younger people should know about civic careers and how the city’s culture has changed across generations.

Bailey, a communications staffer in the City Manager’s Office, hosted the episode and introduced Jonathan Vargas, a tier-one IT technician; Jeff Davis, project manager for the Public Works Department; and Tina Leman, a lieutenant with the Sanford Police Department. "I would describe America as resilient," Vargas said, adding that his work with city colleagues and residents has been a source of inspiration. Davis described his view differently: "America's the greatest country on the planet," he said, and pointed to diversity and the opportunity to pursue the American dream.

Why work in local government? Guests offered both pragmatic and civic answers. Jonathan said his military experience led him to look for roles where it is easier to effect change at the local level. Davis told listeners that local government employment began for him out of necessity but grew into a long-term career; he advised young people to "get a government job or go in the military," arguing that government work can provide stability and opportunities for advancement. The episode's intern, who is not named in the transcript, described applying after a university job fair and said the internship deepened their understanding of crisis communications and public engagement.

The conversation also focused on how Sanford has changed. Davis, who described growing up when the naval air base and agriculture shaped the local economy, said the city has shifted toward technology and STEM education: schools that once emphasized agriculture now offer magnet tech programs, he said. Leman, reflecting on 25 years in policing, said law enforcement must adapt to social and technological change: "we learn to adapt to everything that changes in time," she said.

Speakers identified generational touchstones that shaped their outlooks. Several participants named the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as a defining moment that fostered unity and changed national security and travel. A younger participant (not identified by name in the transcript) referenced school shootings, including Parkland, as an event that influenced their generation’s sense of safety; that remark is recorded in the episode but is not tied to a named speaker in the transcript.

Throughout the episode, guests emphasized empathy and listening across age groups. "Give grace and show mercy," Vargas said as a message to pass on; Leman urged understanding diverse perspectives to improve community policing and workplace relationships. Panelists also used pop culture — music and television — to illustrate generational differences in taste and identity.

The episode closed with the host thanking participants and music. There were no formal actions, votes or policy decisions discussed on the podcast; the episode was framed as a public-facing conversation about careers, civic service and intergenerational understanding in Sanford.