The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work · The Political Trenches
Incoming South Stormont CAO David Barrick
November 19, 2025·32 min·2 clips
David Barrick reveals how urban CAOs handle homelessness and 170 languages, while rural ones focus on ditching and drainage.
As heard by us
A grounded look at how a CAO connects council direction with municipal administration.
David Barrick's move into the South Stormont CAO chair gives the episode a clear lane: municipal leadership as the bridge between elected council and the staff handling daily operations.
Why you'd press play
If municipal power feels abstract, meet David Barrick, a CAO who describes the job as a bridge between elected council and day-to-day staff operations.
Listen to the show on