An exit interview with departing Lawrence City Manager Tom Markus

We are really nice but not that rich.

That is one takeaway I had from my final interview with Lawrence City Manager Tom Markus as he ended his tenure at City Hall last week. Markus noticed the Lawrence friendliness in the grocery store and other places where he was out and about around the community.

Markus, who has been in public administration since 1973 and most recently came to Lawrence after serving in the top spot at Iowa City, said he had less anonymity in Lawrence than he did in the other communities he’s served. People would come up to him often while out in public.

“It didn’t bother me, and part of the reason why it didn’t is because everybody is so damn friendly,” Markus said. “They’ll tell you what they think of you, but most people have been genuinely friendly. About the best thing you can say about any place is the people are darn nice people.”