Mayor Rogero reflects on 8 years in office, political fights and leading a generation of women into politics – GoVolsXtra
Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero will watch Saturday as Indya Kincannon takes the oath of office. When the ceremony is over, Rogero will no longer be mayor.
The outgoing mayor recently sat down with Knox News in her sixth-floor mayor’s suite overlooking the Tennessee River to discuss her eight years in office, overcoming disagreements in politics and how she came to lead a generation of women into politics.
On disagreements in politics
Rogero learned early on – back when she was serving on the Knox County Commission in the 1990s – that you can’t burn bridges in politics, something that’s unheard of in today’s national political environment. She took the lesson with her when she became mayor: an enemy today can be an ally tomorrow.
The city deals with things that aren’t black and white, she said. What one person thinks is the best way to spend $1 million will be vastly different than another’s.
“Ultimately, I have to make a decision. I have to recommend something (to Council),” she said. “We can’t be paralyzed by the fact that there are differences in opinions.
“So, early on I had to learn – particularly in this role – that you do your homework. You talk to as many people as you can. You survey your Council. You look at the best practices out there – I work with a lot of other mayors – then you come up with a plan and you work the plan.”
Though she’s a staunch Democrat, she said the political ideology seen at the state and federal levels hasn’t disrupted work in the city. She’s thankful for that.
“You can really work across party lines and across ideologies on city issues,” she said. “It’s a real pleasure, a real joy to be able to do.”
On leading a generation of women into politics and the burden it brings
Rogero doesn’t like to talk about it – she really doesn’t – but when asked, she allows herself a moment to reflect on the impact she’s had both locally and statewide as a woman in office.
Since her election, Megan Berry became mayor of Nashville. The Knoxville City Council went from one to four to seven women, creating the first women-majority on Council in city history. Now Indya Kincannon will replace her.
Rogero said so many people have said they look up to her, from dads bringing in their daughters in to see her to women calling about city issues.
Councilwoman Lauren Rider said as much when she was elected in 2017. “It’s role modeling. We elected a woman mayor for the first time in history, and all those women were celebrating that,” she said. “Rogero embodies the goal that women can achieve this.
More: Knoxville’s female mayor paved way for wave of women elected to city council
“It’s not like she (Rogero) went out and recruited a lot of women to run, but they see it as possible, a reality.”
The job is steeped with responsibility though, Rogero said.
“I think any of us that are in a position like that … really do pave the way for others, and that’s why there’s such a responsibility to try and do it correctly and to be someone that folks can continue to be proud of.”
On being editor in chief and asking a million questions
Rogero’s staff works intentionally on how they will frame an issue before an announcement is made. But staff won’t miss these meetings, she said, because she pushes back and asks questions. It’s her way of getting to the bottom of an issue.
In this, she’s a heavy editor, she said, because she knows the importance of framing an issue.
“The way you explain an issue is really important to how successful it is because there’s a lot of different things we can do, a lot of different ways you can do things,” she said.
All the questions, she said, help prepare her and city staff for any bumps that could pop up.
“So yeah, I’m a heavy editor and I push back and ask a lot of questions. But I also want to hear a lot of different opinions,” she said. “I like to hear all the differences … like if you tell me we ought to do something, I want to push back and say, ‘What’s the other side? What are we going to get criticized about that?’
“You want to go in understanding the big picture, you know,” she continued. “What the negatives might be, what the pushback might be and why we think this is the right way to move it forward.”
Getting out in front and framing an issue is different than spin, she said. The city isn’t sugarcoating things but is trying to explain the city’s (the mayor’s) point of view.
“So, the way I end up editing it isn’t the only way it can be done, but it’s my voice. It’s my responsibility to present this and ultimately this is the way I want it presented. … So likewise, when people don’t like it it’s my fault too,” she said laughing. “I’m the target for them, but that’s the job.”
On political appointments and what could have been in 2016
Rogero spent a few days in Philadelphia attending the Democratic National Convention in 2016 and rumors quickly spread about her future in a Hillary Clinton administration. This, of course, didn’t happen.
Three years later she said she wasn’t at the convention passing out resumes and wasn’t looking for a new, shinier gig.
“For me, when you’re in a position like this you can work without the political ideology and actually make things happen,” she said. “I had no intentions of giving up this job because I felt like I could accomplish a lot more here than in some lower, appointed job.
“Even though it would always be an honor to work for (a president), but for me in a position like this I would rather be mayor because you can literally see things happen,” she continued.
On post-elected life and what’s next
Rogero is headed out of town for a few weeks after Kincannon is sworn in Saturday. After the trip she’s going to take some time – she doesn’t know how much – to figure out what’s next.
She’s passed on half a dozen board appointments (ask her next year) and said she’s been offered some consulting gigs that interest her.
Either way, the 67-year-old said her retirement will be different.
“I will never just sit at home and do nothing. … If I’m retired, I’m doing something. I’m going to be very active and involved.
“If the right full-time job came around, I might take it, but right now I don’t want anything like that,” she said. “But I don’t know if that’s a product of just needing time off from a pretty intense job for the last eight years.”
Published 5:00 AM EST Dec 20, 2019
