If you're from Gary, Indiana, you might recognize Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. However, with a few tweaks to her appearance, not even her husband could recognize her.
Mayor Freeman-Wilson appeared on CBS's Undercover Boss, where she wore a disguise to be able to spy on city employees. The mayor wanted to see what sanitation works, firefighters, police officers, and other city workers did on the job, as well as to find out what was important to them.
The workers were convinced the mayor, who went by Sheila, was a contestant on a reality show, which explained to them why all of the cameras were around.
For the mayor, it was enlightening. She saw how dangerous cops have it and how hard it is to work at a sewage plant.
“The thing that struck me was not just their commitment to the job, but their commitment to the well-being on their co-workers," she said.
What was perhaps the most shocking thing, though, was how some of the employees felt about her. Many of them were convinced she didn't care about them, that she was corruptly working with other government officials. The conspiracies were wild and outlandish to her, but Freeman-Wilson took it in stride. Understanding the perception she gave off was critical to her doing her job well.
"I truly gained a new respect for those working in other areas of city service," the mayor said.
But of course there were some surprises. Freeman-Wilson told employees that the city would invest $1.1 million in new police cars, that every firehouse will be remodeled, and that sanitation workers would get some new equipment and a 10 percent raise.
Please SHARE if you think Mayor Freeman-Wilson clearly cares about the folks who make her city great.
