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Oakdale Administration Case Study
Kendra E. Marsteller
Liberty University- Public Administration
PADM 501-B02
Dr. Connie Bates
September 13, 2020
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Introduction:
The Oakdale Administrator Case study concentrated on a few points such as financial
management, decision making, ethics, and political positions. This case shows the efforts to keep
constituents happy, rebuild the city, and the struggle from city managers. The lack of finances and fiscal
management made things difficult to create jobs, rebuild and revitalize a community at the same time
attempting to boost their economy. This case is familiar when it comes to even current politics.
Facts:
Oakdale became its own city in 1941, at this time they created the positions for the Mayor and
other board members or as the book states alderman (Cropf, Giancola, & Loutzenhiser, 2016, p.80). The
Oakland economy was declining which made it very difficult for the creation of new jobs, businesses to
invest in, let alone attract new residents. Oakdale was a small town with little income, the town was
described as an eyesore. So, the implication alone to rebuild and bring new business empowered the
community and was a welcome change.
The city was burdened in trying to fix several issues. There were poor decisions made by not
only the citizens but trying to support a severally inexperienced mayor. The Mayor’s decisions in hiring a
city manage with a not so good track record already being investigated for unethical behavior and holding
multiple positions within several other cities. (Cropf, Giancola, & Loutzenhiser, 2016, p.83). The
Oakdale population was filled with a lower-middle-class reaching 5,000 people. The median income was
only $47,869 and the housing value was $100,900. The neighboring city Silver Lake’s population was up
to 7,000, however, its income was over $100,000 and the housing value was over $350,000 (Cropf,
