Candidate Series: Rimga Viskanta: Giving Bureaucrats and Peacemakers a Chance to Govern

May 6

Kristine Michie - Playfull Podcast Interview - Rimga Viskanta

Candidate Series: Rimga Viskanta: Giving Bureaucrats and Peacemakers a Chance to Govern

What happens when an empathic peacemaker steps into the rough-and-tumble world of modern politics? In this episode, a mayoral candidate shares how deep listening, local action, and respect for “beautiful bureaucrats” can heal division and make democracy work where we live.

In this episode, Kristine Michie speaks with Rimga Viskanta, a business leader, entrepreneur, and public servant with experience in finance, technology, and economic development, about how meaningful civic progress is built through collaboration rather than division. They explore the gap between campaigning and governing, where politics rewards loud messaging but effective leadership depends on listening, evaluating ideas on their merit, and finding shared values across differences. Rimga also reflects on how local action, like city-level environmental initiatives, can ground people emotionally while shaping broader policy, and highlights the vital role of public servants in turning vision into practical results when trusted to do so. At its core, the conversation points to a quieter form of leadership rooted in bridge-building, shared purpose, and sustainable community impact.

Key Takeaways:

Real bridge-building starts by refusing to see every issue as two opposing sides and instead looking for shared values and common goals.
Campaigning rewards loud, uncompromising salesmanship, but effective governing often requires quiet listening and evaluating ideas on their merits rather than their source.
Local action like city-level environmental policies can both ease personal anxiety about global crises and “trickle up” to influence state and national change.
Bureaucrats and public servants, when trusted and given flexibility, are often the ones who know how to turn lofty resolutions into practical, effective steps.
To sustain the emotional weight of public life, it is essential to step away, feel your feelings fully, and intentionally refill your energy through grounding practices like time in nature.

"The people who are the best salesmen and the best packagers of themselves are [often] the ones who are elected; that doesn't mean they have the skills for good governance." — Rimga Viskanta

"Democracy is local." — Rimga Viskanta

More About Rimga Viskanta:

Rimga Viskanta is a civic leader and public sector professional with experience in local government, education, sustainability, and community development. A longtime Encinitas resident and mother of three, she currently serves on the San Dieguito Union High School District Board of Trustees and previously served on the Encinitas Union School District Board, including as Board President during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her professional background spans both the public and private sectors, including work with the City of Solana Beach on sustainability initiatives, homelessness, and government services, as well as experience in property management and accounting. Rimga holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia.

Connect with Rimga Viskanta:

Website: Voteforviskanta.com

Connect with Kristine:

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.co m/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/

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