Ep. 46 – Leaving It Better Than We Found It: The Bisbee Story (with Steve Pauken)

In this episode of The Jentry Podcast, host Jonathan Mason sits down with Steve Pauken, longtime City Manager of Bisbee, Arizona — a leader whose decades of public service have been defined by one philosophy: leave every place better than you found it.

Steve shares how Bisbee transformed from a declining mining town to a vibrant arts and tourism hub, why small-town resiliency is both cultural and economic, and what it really takes to rebuild a community piece by piece. From resurrecting Winslow’s downtown (“Standin’ on a Corner” fame) to restoring Bisbee’s financial stability and tackling its housing challenges, Steve’s story is a masterclass in slow, stubborn, thoughtful public service.

With a career marked by comebacks — rehired after retirement twice — Steve explains why he still feels called to serve, how infrastructure decisions shape generations, and why local government remains one of the most meaningful places to make a difference.

Takeaways

Resilience Is Bisbee’s DNA: Steve describes how Bisbee reinvented itself after mining collapsed, proving small towns can come back stronger through creativity, identity, and grit.

Leadership Means Fixing What’s Broken: Whether it’s pensions, permitting, or an abandoned downtown, Steve believes in running toward problems — not around them — and doing the unglamorous work.

Housing Is the New Frontier: He never expected to be in the housing business, but Bisbee’s rising costs forced the city to rethink affordability and expand options for working families.

You Don’t Always Get to Stay — But You Keep Showing Up: Fired, hired, retired, rehired… Steve’s career is a reminder that public service isn’t linear — it’s about perseverance, humility, and sticking with communities that need you.

Legacy Comes From Stewardship: His guiding principle remains simple: leave the city healthier, stronger, and more stable than when you found it.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and welcome
01:36 Bisbee’s shift from mining town to arts haven
05:14 What resilience looks like in small-town America
08:42 Fixing structural issues: pensions, finances, and trust
12:55 “Standin’ on a Corner” — the Winslow comeback story
16:28 Returning to Bisbee (again): why he couldn’t stay retired
20:07 The housing crisis and affordability challenges
23:49 Rebuilding infrastructure and long-term planning
27:18 Leadership lessons from decades in public service
30:44 “Leaving it better than we found it” — Steve’s philosophy
34:21 Final reflections and closing thoughts

Keywords
Steve Pauken, Bisbee, Arizona, Winslow, city management, small-town resilience, downtown revitalization, local government, housing affordability, public service, economic redevelopment, tourism, arts communities, civic leadership, infrastructure planning