Page 26 - Nov/Dec 2015 Vol. 33 No. 5
P. 26
APWA By Calvin Clifton, Delegate, Council of Chapters
Public Works Advocacy
ADVOCATE: a person who argues for or supports a cause or policy
or a person who works for a cause or group
ADVOCACY: the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal or
the act or process of advocating something
As your delegate to the APWA Coun- the list can go on and on. These are all need to pave; the storm drain we’d like to
cil of Chapters, I serve on the Council’s examples of what we in the public works rebuild; the pump station that needs to be
Advocacy Committee. I also serve on the profession face on a regular basis. After replaced – these are always in the back of
APWA Government Affairs Committee. each event, we have to regroup, reener- our minds but far too often they’re low on
These are roles that I take very seriously gize, and prepare for the next big event. the priority list.
as I represent TCAPWA. Through the However, in the meantime, the general
years I have witnessed the importance of public goes about their business and takes What does this have to do with advo-
advocating for what we do day in and day for granted that their utilities, highways, cacy? Based on the above definitions and
out. All too often, our profession is over- and bridges are all in great shape with no the current state of our nation’s infra-
looked by the general public, our elected worries. That’s the way it should be. But structure, it’s time that our profession
officials, and funding agencies (local, state, is it – is everything in great shape with started advocating for what we do and
and federal). Much of what we do is “out no worries? We know that is not always
of sight and out of mind” until there is an the case. Our infrastructure, as a whole, is
“emergency.” Let me remind everyone that aging and gradually failing. I’m obviously
we are truly “first responders.” not telling you something new. We are
all faced with needs that simply can’t be
Storms, blizzards, sinkholes, potholes, met with current funding. The intersec-
bridge failures, water breaks, sewer tion we need to upgrade; the street we
overflows, aging/failing infrastructure…
26 TPW November/December 2015
Public Works Advocacy
ADVOCATE: a person who argues for or supports a cause or policy
or a person who works for a cause or group
ADVOCACY: the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal or
the act or process of advocating something
As your delegate to the APWA Coun- the list can go on and on. These are all need to pave; the storm drain we’d like to
cil of Chapters, I serve on the Council’s examples of what we in the public works rebuild; the pump station that needs to be
Advocacy Committee. I also serve on the profession face on a regular basis. After replaced – these are always in the back of
APWA Government Affairs Committee. each event, we have to regroup, reener- our minds but far too often they’re low on
These are roles that I take very seriously gize, and prepare for the next big event. the priority list.
as I represent TCAPWA. Through the However, in the meantime, the general
years I have witnessed the importance of public goes about their business and takes What does this have to do with advo-
advocating for what we do day in and day for granted that their utilities, highways, cacy? Based on the above definitions and
out. All too often, our profession is over- and bridges are all in great shape with no the current state of our nation’s infra-
looked by the general public, our elected worries. That’s the way it should be. But structure, it’s time that our profession
officials, and funding agencies (local, state, is it – is everything in great shape with started advocating for what we do and
and federal). Much of what we do is “out no worries? We know that is not always
of sight and out of mind” until there is an the case. Our infrastructure, as a whole, is
“emergency.” Let me remind everyone that aging and gradually failing. I’m obviously
we are truly “first responders.” not telling you something new. We are
all faced with needs that simply can’t be
Storms, blizzards, sinkholes, potholes, met with current funding. The intersec-
bridge failures, water breaks, sewer tion we need to upgrade; the street we
overflows, aging/failing infrastructure…
26 TPW November/December 2015
