20 minute read
SHIFTS IN AMERICAN LIFE
The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has brought about challenges to nearly every aspect of life in America. We’ve seen changes in the way we work and go to school, increased unemployment and economic uncertainty, disruptions to international supply chains and new ways of conducting government and judicial proceedings. But amidst these challenges, the country has seen innovation and inspiration, and across America, state leaders are noting some resulting changes as positive ones. Hear from these leaders who have been encouraged by recent shifts in American life.
Speaker Eric Barlow
WYOMING
Rep. Eric Barlow is used to social distancing — his family operates a ranch 30 miles from town.
“Social distancing is par for the course,” the speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives said, “but with internet access, I didn’t miss much.”
While there were weeks he didn’t leave the ranch at all, Barlow said as presiding officer, he remained focused on ensuring members and the public had the best opportunity to participate in the legislative process while minimizing the health risks to staff, the public and elected officials. “The deployment of technology has expanded the opportunities for the public to participate in the legislative process exponentially. Our gallery and committee rooms have approximately 75 seats and yet there would be hundreds, even thousands at times, participating in our work virtually,” he said.
Barlow acknowledges the country is not out of the pandemic and challenges continue to evolve along with changes in information and understanding, new technology and public concerns. “We are still in the thick of it,” he said, “and much of what we learned [in the early days of COVID-19] is being further refined.”
Despite the pandemic, a bright spot over the last year has been Lt. Gov. Molly Gray’s engagement and marriage to her best friend, Michael Palm, now the second gentleman of Vermont. Lt. Gov. Molly Gray
VERMONT
Despite having been in office since January, first-term Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray is only just now meeting her colleagues in person. While she was in the Vermont State House every day presiding over the Senate, the state was holding a remote legislative session.
“I would stand at the dais and recognize senators who were Zooming in from home and displayed on a big screen placed in the center of the chamber,” Gray said. “This has meant my time as the lieutenant governor of Vermont has been nothing short of unprecedented.” There is no playbook for a remote legislative session in Vermont, Gray said, but there were positive changes that came from the temporary shift away from in-person governance. Vermont held remote gatherings, or advocacy days, during which the State House allowed hundreds of people to participate in and listen to testimony from the comfort of their own homes.
“For many Vermonters, this allowed them to engage with the legislative process for the first time. The ability to access the legislature and my office remotely meant that travel, child care, leave from work or other barriers to their ability to physically be at the State House were no longer impeding their ability to reach government.” The accessibility that the shift to remote legislating allowed for in 2020 has set a new precedent for governing in Vermont, Gray said. “Our new expectations for accessibility, accountability and transparency are aspects of the pandemic response that I sincerely hope are here to stay.” While the COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of tremendous loss and anguish for so many Americans, Gray said it has presented opportunities to do things better or differently. “I’ve often been reminded that from crisis comes opportunity. I’m optimistic that not only in Vermont, but also across America, we can focus on addressing human needs and put the well-being of people, communities and families at the forefront of our policy agenda.” Over the past several months, Gray has traveled to communities across Vermont on the Recover Stronger Tour, which has allowed her to hear firsthand stories of resilience, adaptation and recovery from the pandemic. She hopes that listening to individuals in these communities will help Vermont decide how to invest funding and ensure the state recovers and addresses issues that were brought to the forefront by the pandemic. “Our communities, nonprofits and innovative businesses have often served as laboratories for creative solutions to some of our most pressing challenges,” she said. “We can’t let these lessons pass us by.”
Commissioner Vicki Schmidt
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, KANSAS
She has a new favorite word: grace. “This pandemic has reminded me nearly every day that we all have unique challenges in life that are completely outside of our control,” said Commissioner Vicki Schmidt of the Kansas Department of Insurance. The biggest challenge for her during the COVID-19 pandemic has been finding the balance between expectations and what is realistically possible. “Labor shortages, new work arrangements, virtual meetings — all are challenges we have faced, but none of them are unique to us. I have tried to remember that during these challenges we could all use a little more grace.” When the pandemic first hit in early 2020 and it became clear daily operations would change, Schmidt and her team acted quickly. The first step was to outfit the entire staff with laptops so they could work from home. They deployed internet hotspots and cell phones to help with workflow. The result? Sustained improvement across the department. “Our operations are better than they were before,” Schmidt said. “The department was forced to become more efficient, and we have continued those efficiencies since returning to the office.” In the Kansas Department of Insurance, this translates to every employee being equipped to work from home. Additionally, license applicants have more locations to take an insurance exam, including online, and the state is getting ready to launch digital fingerprints for its test centers, which will expedite the licensing process for applicants. “Most folks don’t realize the number of steps we go through to ensure an insurance agent is qualified. At the start of the pandemic, testing centers shut down and law enforcement centers were not accepting appointments for fingerprints or background checks. Both of these steps are critical to the licensing process. On the other side of the issue were prospective agents who wanted to get to work. I am proud to report that despite the obstacles, Kansas became the first state in the country to get our licensing processes reopened, while helping Kansas get back to work and ensuring critical consumer protections.” While the pandemic isn’t over and there are still lessons to be learned as the country continues to navigate challenges, Schmidt said she and her team continue to do everything possible to ensure they can still provide a high level of service to Kansans. Over the past year, she drew inspiration from weekly nuggets of wisdom from her pastor and was often guided by the Serenity Prayer. “There was and still is so much beyond my control that I had to learn to accept that and focus on the things I could control, which was my department and how we served Kansans while keeping the workforce safe.” As Schmidt, Kansas and the country continue to navigate this global pandemic, she draws inspiration from the innovative ideas of small business owners across her state and seeing her fellow Kansans step up to help their neighbors. We’re all still learning lessons from the changes that COVID-19 forced on us, she said, but she is focusing on the path ahead, not looking back. “Hindsight is always 20/20. We don’t have the benefit of going back in time with the information we have today,” she said. “I try my best every day to make the best decision with the information I have at the time. I try not to make a habit of second guessing myself in the future. Of course, all of us have things we wish we could have done differently in our lives, but I believe if you spend too much time dwelling on the past it distracts you from being better in the future.”
“On the home front, I am fortunate to have a very patient husband who offered me love and support during this incredibly challenging time. However, I think he was really excited when I was able to return to the office and he didn’t have to listen to me on Zoom calls all day. It took a while for me to get to travel to see my kids and grandkids. While FaceTime and Zoom are no substitute for the human connection, I am thankful we were able to make use of them to stay connected with our loved ones during the pandemic.”
Early in 2020 as COVID-19 was beginning to take over media headlines and social media, Panos had a conversation with his older brother, Peter, who was expressing his frustration over how the pandemic was being handled. “Empathy overtook me. I said to him, ‘How are they supposed to know what to do?’ COVID-19 was all so new, and information was changing so quickly. From then on, my opinion was cemented: it’s OK to not know everything. It’s OK to change direction and pivot when we have new information and can make a better decision. We can only do the best we can with the information we have. As long as our values are true, we take care of our people, we’re smart with the information we receive and our hearts are in the right place, I’m confident things will work out.”
Director Bill Panos
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, NORTH DAKOTA
As it did for many Americans, COVID-19 took a variety of stressful personal challenges — including sickness, anxiety over getting sick, virtual school, aging parents, absent support networks and more — and forced all those heavy issues to be top priorities in the lives of the team at the North Dakota Department of Transportation. “It was a lot for people to deal with,” said Bill Panos, director of the department. “Right away, we recognized the importance of validating work/life balance. Sometimes we spent more time in leadership meetings talking about our team and how to help them than we did about transportation topics. The health and well-being of our team became our priority, and it still is today.” Work culture improved, and because of the pandemic, the department now has a telework option for office staff. The office doesn’t just claim to be family-friendly; it now has policies and expectations with supervisors to ensure that it is. “We have a culture that accepts the whole person, not just the one who does the work for us.” The biggest challenge of the pandemic, Panos said, was the unknowns associated with COVID-19. “No one knew how it was going to evolve, how long it would last, if the solutions we developed were sufficient. But as a person who deals in a very scientific, policy-driven space, I found it all very interesting and am grateful for the opportunity to explore and navigate something that there is no handbook for or training on.” In the transportation department, Panos’ goal was to protect the safety of the team and the public while keeping the transportation system as open as possible. Whether in a pandemic or not, transporting people and goods is always a necessity. While they encountered challenges, the North Dakota Department of Transportation had many successes including sending its team members home to telework within 72 hours of initial outbreaks; adopting strict cleaning measures to keep public offices, work areas and rest areas open and safe; having the driver’s license and motor vehicle divisions go to appointment-only operations; and assisting the state department of health in transporting supplies and vaccines across North Dakota. “Personally, it was rewarding to see how we could handle such a fluid, long-term, high-stakes situation,” he said. “Our agency did not see hardship (financially, operationally or culturally) that many around the country did. It really seemed like our team was taking challenges in stride, problem solving, and our agency came out of COVID-19 stronger for it.” Panos said he and his team have started to look back and learn from what happened, including the administrative, behavioral and engineering controls needed to be successful in disaster situations. As a result, they’re modifying their office building to make it more functional for a new hybrid environment and they have updated the Continuity of Operations Plan. He has been inspired by the dedication and commitment of the staff to serve the citizens of North Dakota. For example, Drivers License Division Director Brad Schaffer got his driver’s license examiner certification so he could come in every Saturday and help his team serve the public quicker by working through the backlog caused by being closed for weeks. Everyone worked together to help the state overcome a difficult and stressful time. “On a larger scale, I wish we could be better at mixing the science and politics of COVID-19,” Panos said. “So much of it became politicized and the perception was an imbalance … Both the science and policy side serve a purpose and have the same goal to protect.”
Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut state Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey realized the necessity of communication as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the United States, recognizing that her constituents would face unique challenges as “two weeks to flatten the curve” became the national mantra.
“I have wanted to help my constituents stay up to date and understand how their choices and efforts can make a difference for the community at large,” she said. “At the beginning of the pandemic and still today, many constituents have needed assistance with accessing unemployment benefits in order to feed their families and pay their bills. The system was not prepared for either the volume of claims or the self-employed workforce. As federal leaders made resources available, it was important to get information out and help people know where to turn.” Connecticut, like other states, had to navigate new voting protocols in light of pandemic practices. McCarthy Vahey said state leaders began to look at voting rules in Connecticut and make changes to be prepared, should another pandemic-like event occur. “Access to voting during the pandemic was a challenge for states like Connecticut that do not have vote by mail or no excuse absentee balloting,” she said. “This session, the legislature took a critical first step towards a change in our state constitution that would allow no-excuse absentee ballots in our state.”
She said she did see some positive changes and habits because of the pandemic. “As the co-chair of the Planning and Development Committee, I worked with colleagues to pass legislation that would allow our town bodies to continue to use Zoom and other online platforms to conduct public meetings. The use of these tools has already increased access to government and allowed us to hear from those voices who were not historically at the table. This will benefit all of us,” she said. She also began walking any time she was on the phone, since in-person meetings were no longer happening. She was impressed with the way so many businesses managed the pandemic and still tried to serve customers while accommodating rules. “COVID reminded all of us how much we take for granted, including enjoying a meal out with family and friends,” she said. “The restaurant industry has taken a beating, but the creativity and resilience they have shown has been inspirational. Working with our Planning and Development committee and the governor’s office here in Connecticut, we were able to expand outdoor dining opportunities. Between that and the shift to take-out options, it’s been amazing to see the creative solutions from our restaurants.” McCarthy Vahey said she hopes that in the future, people will remember to use compassion like they did during COVID-19. “It’s so easy to second guess our decisions. People are doing the best they can to survive what has been a global trauma,” she said. “We will be dealing with the impact of this pandemic on every level — physically, financially and psychologically — for years to come. I hope that as we continue to navigate the pandemic, we can focus on facts, make choices that keep the community as a whole in mind and offer each other grace and compassion.”
Early in the pandemic, McCarthy Vahey’s friend and congressman, Jim Himes, recommended a book: “Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World.” “It is a story of hope, resilience and the use of science to help address tuberculosis in Haiti, Peru and Russia,” she said. “In times of crisis, our imaginations and sense of hope and purpose are critical to recovery. Paul Farmer’s story was a source of inspiration to me, particularly in the days before the vaccine was available.”
Chief Justice John Minton
KENTUCKY
Like many others, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton had to learn new lessons about balancing work and life when COVID-19 hit. It would be the first time in his more than 40-year career that he had simply walked upstairs to the office — and while he appreciated extra time with family, he also experienced a blurring of personal and professional life that made it hard to fully disconnect from work. “I quickly learned that working from home is a double-edged sword,” he said. “It is hard to step away from work and be present with your family when your office is now located on the nearby laptop.” Minton said workplace flexibility became a necessity — not just for him, but also for staff. Especially for staff who couldn’t work remotely, new flexible options became important for maintaining safety. “We were able to offer employees whose jobs did not allow them to work from home the option for flexible staffing to minimize exposure at work while continuing our necessary operations. Additional leave options were also available for high-risk employees. These measures helped our workforce to balance the stress of the pandemic by allowing them additional time at home with family while ensuring we fulfilled our obligations to the public.” Minton said the pandemic caused lasting changes for the legal field. Before the pandemic, state courts including Kentucky were designed for fully in-person operations. The pandemic, however, has increasingly shown states that virtual hearings can be beneficial on multiple fronts (see page 32). “It may not be every person’s first choice and it may not be appropriate in every instance. But the ability to conduct a hearing or a meeting virtually saves time and money for the state and for the people we serve,” he said. “The pandemic also forced more attorneys to electronically file documents, which will be beneficial as we continue to move towards our goal of an all-electronic court record. We already had several attorneys who had adopted electronic filing as part of their practice, but the pandemic made everyone realize the value and necessity of it.” He said that thanks to appropriations from the Kentucky General Assembly, technology and infrastructure can provide support for remote capabilities in the future.
“The goal is to make a fully digitized court record and wider use of virtual court appearances a part of our regular operations to continue realizing those cost savings and efficiencies.” Minton said the pandemic also brought great sadness. He lost a personal friend, Dr. Rebecca Shadowen, who was an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist at the Medical Center at Bowling Green in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Shadowen provided early guidance during the pandemic, Minton said, “urging mask-wearing and warning of the dangers of the virus.” “Sadly, she contracted COVID. But even as she became increasingly disabled by the disease, she continued to attend the regular meetings of the local coronavirus workgroup remotely from her hospital bed,” he said. “Dr. Shadowen’s dedication to her community is inspirational and a reminder of the importance of bold leadership, especially in uncertain times.” With the benefit of hindsight, Minton said he would push for more 21st-century upgrades in Kentucky courtrooms. “If I could have peered into the future to see what March of 2020 would hold, I would have pushed for more technology upgrades in our courtrooms and conducted trainings on the use of remote technology. I am so proud of our elected officials and employees for their adaptability and creativity throughout the pandemic to ensure the continued operations of the court system. But I am certain we all would have benefited from some time to prepare for an event that has completely and irretrievably reshaped the way we conduct business.”
Through the grief of losing his friend, Chief Justice John Minton was happy to know Dr. Rebecca Shadowen made an impact. “I am proud that my alma mater, Western Kentucky University, is posthumously inducting Dr. Shadowen into its Hall of Distinguished Alumni,” he said.
Rep. Marvin Abney
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island state Rep. Marvin Abney was keenly aware of his role once COVID-19 hit. He knew people would have questions about the virus and the state’s response. In his local community, he did everything he could to embody that role. “I tried to be the face of state government in my local grocery stores, gas stations, churches, restaurants, food pantries,” he said. “While it is important to put out newsletters, articles in local outlets and such, I found it critically important to help one person at a time, who, in turn, recommend two or three more who were in the same or similar situations, and it worked exponentially. Once trust was established, government was viewed as ‘for the people.’” Abney, a retired major in the U.S. Army, takes public service to heart. “First, be true to yourself,” he said. “Understand that no one knows everything or how to solve all problems. Take some time to arm yourself with knowledge from the best reputable sources of information available to you. Second, don’t be afraid to be wrong. It happens to best of leaders. Be honest, make necessary corrections and move on. Third, and most important to me: you cannot lead from behind. I learned that in Army Officer Candidate School many years ago. Let people see that your hands get dirty and that you are there for them, and most importantly, with them.”
Abney said he and other legislators have prepared Rhode Island in case another pandemiclike event should occur.
“My main legislative responsibility within the House of Representatives is chair of the House Finance Committee,” he said. “We are working extremely hard with our Senate and executive branch partners to find out what we didn’t know about widespread, fast-moving public health related issues; what worked, what didn’t.” Other projects include creating a “war book” that defines agency roles and responsibilities and offers guidelines on working with federal partners. Abney said looking back, he wishes the pandemic had not become so politicized, and he would rather the focus remain on saving lives. “I personally would have done more to take the politics out of a public health emergency,” he said. “Politics are certainly healthy in a democratic republic form of government. However, in my opinion, saving lives, personal health and a healthy economy, which fuel our democracy, is more important than sheer politics. “ Abney said he drew strength and inspiration from fellow Americans as the country fought the virus.
“I am always amazed to see Americans, regardless of our many differences, come together and support each other during difficult crises,” he said. “I saw this happening in churches, food pantries, small business adapting to the needs of their communities, citizens generously donating to worthy causes, front line professionals in many fields answering a call to duty. My heroes were those who showed up without necessarily being called — the ultimate warrior spirit.” Abney said the pandemic gave him an opportunity to learn about himself as a person and a leader. “I have become in tune with my personal and professional strengths and weaknesses. I’ve come to realize that I can’t solve every challenge for every person, but I have learned to become a much better listener,” he said.
