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283: Elvin “EJ” Hardwick: Finding the Call Before the Title

The HaltingWinter Podcast

Release Date: 01/20/2026

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The HaltingWinter Podcast

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The HaltingWinter Podcast

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The HaltingWinter Podcast

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The HaltingWinter Podcast

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The HaltingWinter Podcast

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Elvin “EJ” Hardwick: Finding the Call Before the Title
Youth Councils, Public Service, and the Making of a Town Manager

Episode 283 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What happens when someone discovers their calling before they ever hold the title?

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Elvin “EJ” Hardwick, Town Manager of Somerset, Maryland, and one of Government Business Review’s Top 10 Town Managers to Watch. EJ’s journey into municipal leadership didn’t begin in graduate school or a corner office; it started as a teenager serving on a Youth City Council and a citizen recycling committee.

This conversation explores what it looks like to grow into leadership early, stay grounded in service, and lead at the most human level of government, where politics fade and community takes center stage.

EJ shares honest reflections on stepping into the town manager role at a young age, navigating council–staff–community dynamics, and creating space for innovation, youth voice, and belonging in a small but vibrant municipality just outside Washington, D.C.

This episode is both a reminder and an invitation:
Local government doesn’t just maintain systems; it shapes lives. And the future of the profession depends on who we invite in early, how we mentor them, and whether we help them find the call before the title.

Sponsored by:

  • Tyler Technologies – the nation’s leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Download your free e-book on cloud managment at tylertech.com/winter

  • The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect with Seth Winterhalter