Washington is the founding home to Microsoft, Amazon, Real Networks, Starbucks, AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile and many other world-class technology companies. Because of the entrepreneurial spirit that runs in our water, and an educated workforce, we have an image of ourselves that is second to none. The startup community in our state is strong; venture capital often flows; ideas take root and grow. Sometimes into worldwide Fortune 500 companies. (Disclosure: Many of the companies above contributed to my 2008 campaign).

As tough as it is to acknowledge, it’s time to put on the table the reality that the record of accomplishment in the private sector does not extend to the use of technology in the public sector. Yes many people in public service do many wonderful things. And good people strive to make a difference everyday. Of course much good happens.

But when it comes to the public sector and the use of technology, it’s unlikely that Washington is in any way more successful than any other state. We are remarkably ordinary. Given our private sector leadership in technology, that degree of performance is simply unacceptable.

It is time to ask tough questions about how we spend our money on technology and what the value proposition is relative to outcomes. It is time for a new generation of accountability in this area not because there are easy answers but because we are finding ourselves on the wrong side of the macro technology trends in government.

Let’s look at some objective metrics regarding cities nationwide.

The Center for Digital Government and Digital Communities Magazine Name Top Digital Cities in America 2009.

Winners will be honored at a special awards ceremony in San Antonio, Texas on November 12th. Take a long look at the list. In every category of city size–small, medium and large–the silence is deafening relative to Washington state.

I do not intend to embarrass folks or suggest people are not working hard and effectively. I do not imply they are wasting money from taxpayers, or any other such criticisms. I do intend to shatter the myth that the public sector in Washington is a leader in technology relative to other cities, counties and states. There are many other surveys and studies, reports and assessments. But this is a big one.

Following are the top ten-ranking cities for each population category.

250,000 or more population category:
1st City of Corpus Christi, Texas
2nd City of Miami, Fla.
2nd City of Tampa, Fla.
3rd City of Aurora, Colo.
3rd City of Louisville, Ky.
4th City of Tucson, Ariz.
5th City of Riverside, Calif.
6th City of Mesa, Ariz.
6th City of Virginia Beach, Va.
7th City of Chandler, Ariz.
7th City of Kansas City, Mo.
8th City of Honolulu, Hawaii
9th New York City, N.Y.
9th City of Plano, Texas
10th City of Houston, Texas
10th City of San Antonio, Texas
10th Washington, D. C.

125,000 – 249,999 population category:

1st City of Norfolk, Va.
2nd City of Lincoln, Neb.
3rd City of Irving, Texas
3rd City of Winston-Salem, N.C.
4th City of Alexandria, Va.
4th City of Hollywood, Fla.
5th City of Madison, Wis.
5th Salt Lake City, Utah
6th City of Cape Coral, Fla.
7th City of Lakewood, Colo.
7th City of Santa Clarita, Calif.
8th City of Hampton, Va.
9th City of Scottsdale, Ariz.
10th City of Modesto, Calif.
10th City of Richmond, Va.

75,000 – 124,999 population category:

1st City of Santa Monica, Calif.
2nd City of Arvada, Colo.
3rd City of Roanoke, Va.
4th City of Richardson, Texas
4th City of West Palm Beach, Fla.
5th City of Ann Arbor, Mich.
5th City of Independence, Mo.
6th City of Lee’s Summit, Mo.
6th City of Pueblo, Colo.
7th City of Westminster, Colo.
8th City of Lawrence, Kan.
8th City of Ogden, Utah
9th City of Boulder, Colo.
10th Village of Schaumburg, Ill.

30,000 – 74,999 population category:

1st Town of Flower Mound, Texas
2nd Town of Jupiter, Fla.
3rd Town of Manchester, Conn.
4th City of Charlottesville, Va.
5th City of Boynton Beach, Fla.
5th City of Delray Beach, Fla.
6th City of Annapolis, Md.
7th City of Lynchburg, Va.
8th City of Azusa, Calif.
9th City of Missoula, Mont.
10th City of Wellington, Fla.

In the county version of this award, King County and Skagit County reached the top ten (congratulations!). In the 2008 survey of states, Washington ranked 6th (awesome!)

If we have the courage of our conviction and a belief in transparent government and digital services–and alignment with the larger technology trends–let’s set a goal that in five years Washington state, all 39 counties and most cities will dominate this list.

We can be so much more than what we’ve become.

Your partner in service,

Reuven.