So A Comedian Gets Elected Mayor...

Jeremy Nunes

Former Mayor & Comedian

“You Can’t Write City Hall”

Jeremy Nunes was a stand-up comedian when he decided to run for the village board in Dawson, Illinois, a community of about 500 people just outside Springfield. His motivation? A desire to serve his community. And, he jokes, the $75-a-month paycheck.

Two years later, he ran for mayor with the campaign slogan “Put a real joker in office.”

And won.

It turned out that a stand-up comedian had a rather unique vantage point from which to experience local government. Some of what Jeremy encountered was genuinely funny. Some of it wasn’t funny at all. And eventually, his experiences inspired a book with the wonderfully appropriate title, You Can’t Write City Hall.

What happens when the guy who makes his living finding the humor in everyday life suddenly becomes the person everyone is counting on? What did Jeremy discover about leading through a real community crisis? And what did four years in the mayor’s office teach him about why people step forward to serve in the first place?

Jeremy and I laughed a lot during this conversation. But I think you’ll also be surprised by where our conversation goes.

Oh, and find out how Jeremy responded when, as Mayor, he got a call about a pig on the loose on Main Street.

It’s true: You Can’t Write City Hall.

But you can buy his book on Amazon. But better yet, buy it directly from him and get an autographed copy, as I did. Don’t worry, Jeff Bezos will be fine.

Listen to my conversation with former Mayor, comedian, and author Jeremy Nunes.

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