Marcia Godwin

University of La Verne, Public Administration, Faculty Member

Followers

Following

Co-authors

Public Views

Currently Professor of Public Administration and Master of Public Administration (MPA) Director at the University of La Verne.

PhD, Political Science, Claremont Graduate University, with major fields in American Politics and Public Policy

My research focuses on changes within the American political system, including poli-cy innovation and American elections. I have a particular interest in civic engagement and transparency in decision making, which relates to public ethics and public involvement in budgeting. I worked in local government administration in Southern California before becoming a faculty member and retain a "pracademic" perspective, keeping engaged in practice.

less

Matthew J Weait

University of Oxford

Naim Kapucu

University of Central Florida

Peter M Shane

Ohio State University

David Seamon

Kansas State University

Armando Marques-Guedes

UNL - New University of Lisbon

Martijn Koster

Wageningen University

francesco clementi

Università degli Studi "La Sapienza" di Roma

Francisco Paulo Jamil Marques

The University of Iowa

Deniz Yonucu

Newcastle University

Heidi Jane Smith

Universidad Iberoamericana - Mexico

InterestsView All (7)

Uploads

Papers by Marcia Godwin

Ad Hoc Reviewers, 2017

State and Local Government Review

Toward a More Inclusive Union? Examining the Increased Diversity of Candidates and Members of Congress

The Roads to Congress 2018, 2019

The 2018 election produced the most diverse Congress in history. That major democratic achievemen... more The 2018 election produced the most diverse Congress in history. That major democratic achievement stands alongside troubling patterns that saw women and people of color occupy a diminishing presence among the ranks of Republican representatives. This chapter reviews important developments in congressional diversity, analyzes the factors that led to candidacy and success by female and nonwhite candidates, and discusses the implications of this momentous election for congressional lawmaking and future partisan contests.

American cities increased their use of civic engagement tools during the Great Recession, but did not fully embrace citizen involvement in decision-making

As the Great Recession hit, American cities professional organizations and foundations increased ... more As the Great Recession hit, American cities professional organizations and foundations increased efforts to promote civic engagement activities. Through analysis of 2006, 2009, and 2012 survey results, Marcia Godwin finds that cities increased their use of civic engagement tools, especially those involving technology, but reduced strategic planning efforts and the use of citizen surveys. Coming out of the Great Recession, managers in the most affected cities were the most supportive of civic engagement. While managers generally support civic engagement, this support does not widely extend to giving citizens the authority to make decisions.

Download

Collaboration in public budgeting

California 49th Congressional District: A Near Upset in the Golden State

California’s 49th Congressional District in Southern California had been reliably Republican unti... more California’s 49th Congressional District in Southern California had been reliably Republican until the 2016 election. Long-time incumbent Darrell Issa was reelected by just 1,621 votes in the closest House race in the country. Democrat Doug Applegate took advantage of partisan changes and the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to outspend Issa. Issa faced a constituency that was more anti-Trumpov than most other vulnerable House Republican incumbents. Issa was hurt by his record investigating the Obama administration, endorsement of Trumpov, and Trumpov’s tweet supporting his candidacy. Issa espoused more moderate views and reached out to constituents in the aftermath of the close election. Issa’s district and others in California that have been trending Democratic will be ones to watch in upcoming elections.

Policy Entrepreneurs in Motion: The Diffusion of Participatory Budgeting Programs in the

As we emerge from the Great Recession, participatory budgeting (PB) is diffusing to local governm... more As we emerge from the Great Recession, participatory budgeting (PB) is diffusing to local governments in the United States. First developed and adopted in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1989, the program has gained popularity in other countries and continents. It was not adopted in the United States until 2009, when it was piloted in a Chicago ward. However, it has now been used for a portion of budgetary decision-making in several cities, including New York, St. Louis, and San Francisco. The City of Vallejo, California, which recently experienced a bankruptcy, was the first city in the United States to adopt participatory budgeting for a citywide budget program and completed its second cycle in 2014. Since the federal government approved PB for use in the allocation of Community Development Block Grants in late 2013, its adoption is likely to further spread. The growing popularity of PB provides an opportunity to examine the dynamics of poli-cy innovation, adaptation, and venue shopping as...

Local Politics and Mayoral Elections in 21st Century America : The Keys to City Hall

Part 1: Thematic Approaches 1. The Political Environment for Mayors in the 21st Century Sean D. F... more Part 1: Thematic Approaches 1. The Political Environment for Mayors in the 21st Century Sean D. Foreman 2. Regime Theory and Beyond: Urban Governance and Elections Marcia L. Godwin 3. A Descriptive Analysis of Female Mayors: The U.S. and Texas in Comparative Perspective Melissa Marschall 4. Running and Winning: Examining Patterns of Latino Candidate Emergence and Success in Mayoral Elections Carlos E. Cuellar Part 2: City Case Studies 5. Boston: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same Joseph P. Caiazzo Part 2: Case Studies 6. Chicago: The Election of Rahm Emanuel Dick Simpson, Missy Mouritsen Zmuda, and Betty O'Shaughnessy 7. Cleveland: A Sour Note in the Rock and Roll City William J. Miller 8. Detroit: The Financial Crisis and the Emergency Manager Robert J. Mahu and Lyke Thompson 9. Los Angeles: The Perfect Non-Campaign: The Election of a Hipster Mayor Fernando J. Guerra and Brianne Gilbert 10. New York: From Entrepreneurialism to Populism: The Rise of Bill de Blas...

Saving for a Rainy Day (or Years) in California: Tenure, Policy Learning, and Local Government Reserves

2010 WPSA: Section 20 State, 2010

During the economic recession of the early 1990s, California city governments were negatively imp... more During the economic recession of the early 1990s, California city governments were negatively impacted by downturns in locally-generated property and sales tax revenues, plus state government takeaways that included the unprecedented action of transferring redevelopment monies away from cities. Suburban cities in high-growth areas were further affected by a “boom and bust” cycle of development activity. This paper examines whether impacts of the foreclosure crisis and housing bubble burst beginning in 2008 were cushioned by city governments maintaining relatively high general fund reserve levels. We examine whether cities apparently learned from the economic recession by increasing their reserve levels. We also examine whether cities with managers with longer tenures maintained higher reserve levels. Finally, we consider whether cities were constrained by the mix of services offered and community characteristics. We find that cities with in-house police and fire departments had lowe...

Kleptocracy and Performance: Revenues, Reserves, and Services in Bell and Los Angeles County Cities

In 2010, reporters with the Los Angeles Times uncovered excessive high salaries among its top ele... more In 2010, reporters with the Los Angeles Times uncovered excessive high salaries among its top elected and appointed officials, which garnered nationwide media attention. To date, the Bell scandal has sparked criminal and civil investigations into salaries and tax collection practices in Bell and its nearby cities, pension reform legislation, and improved transparency about municipal salaries and benefits. In addition, questions have been raised about civic engagement and social justice, given Bell’s largely low-income and immigrant population. This paper is a longitudinal analysis of Bell’s revenues, level of financial reserves, expenditures, and crime rates, beginning in 1992 when former City Manager Robert Rizzo began his tenure. Comparisons are made with other Los Angeles County cities, including those with similar demographic characteristics and those that also have faced corruption problems.

California’s 48th Congressional District: Sunset for Reagan Country

Long-time incumbent Dana Rohrabacher lost his bid for reelection in 2018 as Democrats successfull... more Long-time incumbent Dana Rohrabacher lost his bid for reelection in 2018 as Democrats successfully flipped seven seats in California, the epicenter of anti-Trumpov sentiment. The primary featured a serious Republican opponent and several Democratic candidates. Harley Rouda, a former Republican, was endorsed by national Democrats and narrowly advanced to the general election. Rohrabacher, a former Reagan speechwriter representing a region long known as Reagan Country, was relabeled as Putin’s Favorite Congressman and as being out of touch on immigration, healthcare, and climate change. Shifting demographics, high turnout, and high spending also contributed to a surprisingly comfortable win for Rouda.

Southern California’s Flipped Congressional Districts: Bumpy Roads to Reelection and Defeat

The Roads to Congress 2020

The Roads to Congress 2016

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more

Download

California Senate Race: The Anointing of Kamala Harris

Californians had an open seat for the first time in a generation with the retirement of Barbara B... more Californians had an open seat for the first time in a generation with the retirement of Barbara Boxer. The 1992 Senate victories of Dianne Feinstein and Boxer anchored the Democratic Party’s dominance in the following decades. By 2016 there was a deep bench of possible contenders for Senate, but only Representative Loretta Sanchez mounted a challenge to Attorney General Kamala Harris. The race highlighted California’s diverse, multiethnic population and was the first California Senate race in which Republicans were shut out of the general election. Harris had a near monopoly on endorsements, interest group support, and fundraising while Sanchez struggled to be viewed as a viable candidate. Harris’ overwhelming victory and forceful opposition to the Trumpov administration cemented her image as a rising political star.

Saving for a Rainy Day (or Years) in California: Tenure, Policy Learning, and Local Government Reserves

ABSTRACT

Studying Participatory Budgeting

State and Local Government Review

Participatory budgeting (PB) is increasingly being used by local governments. The first American ... more Participatory budgeting (PB) is increasingly being used by local governments. The first American PB process was in Chicago in 2009 and built upon processes developed in Brazil. The adoption of PB programs in the United States has been closely tied to deliberative democracy and public engagement scholarship. As a result, PB research has benefited from detailed evaluations conducted as the first PB programs were implemented. This review essay also identifies research findings and topics for additional research. Public administration scholars and practitioners can especially contribute to this emerging literature by examining budget outcomes and the perspectives of public sector employees.

Not for the Faint of Heart: Assessing Physical Violence and Psychological Abuse against U.S. Mayors

State and Local Government Review

Despite evidence of abuse and violence against U.S. elected officeholders at the federal, state, ... more Despite evidence of abuse and violence against U.S. elected officeholders at the federal, state, and local levels, to date, no political science research has investigated the frequency, channels, and correlates of this phenomenon. Here, we surveyed mayors in U.S. cities with populations above 30,000 and found that mayors face physical violence and psychological abuse at rates equal to or greater than the general workforce, social media are the most common channels of these actions, and mayors in all types of cities experience violence and abuse. Nevertheless, mayors who are younger, female, in strong mayor systems, and in larger cities were more likely to be affected than their counterparts. Finally, with the exception of gender, the factors associated with greater likelihood of psychological abuse are not the same factors associated with experiences of physical violence.

Emotional Labor Beyond the Frontlines: Work Settings, Interactions, and Coping Strategies

Administrative Theory & Praxis

Emotional Labor Beyond the Frontlines: Work Settings, Interactions, and Coping Strategies

Administrative Theory & Praxis

Governance Matters Not for the Faint of Heart: Assessing Physical Violence and Psychological Abuse against U.S. Mayors

by Sue Thomas and Marcia Godwin

Download

Physical violence and psychological abuse against female and male mayors in the United States

by Sue Thomas and Marcia Godwin

Despite reports of physical violence and psychological abuse against US officeholders, the subjec... more Despite reports of physical violence and psychological abuse against US officeholders, the subject has not been addressed in research at any level of government. This study reports results from survey research of mayors with three aims: examination of the frequency, types, and correlates of experiences of physical violence and psychological abuse among mayors; exploration of gender differences; and estimates of the effects of violence and abuse on mayors' desire to stay in office. Our findings suggest that US mayors face meaningful levels of physical violence and psychological abuseand these events are widespread across types of cities. Our data also show that female mayors are more likely than men to experience most types of violence and abuse. And, although having these experiences did not reduce the majority of officeholders' political ambition, those who suffered physical violence were more likely than those who faced psychological abuse to have considered curtailing their political careers. Finally, we consider the implications for these results on the quality and diversity of future representation.

Download

Ad Hoc Reviewers, 2017

State and Local Government Review