SHPE - Fall 2008 - (Page 32)

LOCAL HERO ❚ By Leilani Rangel politan planning within the Federal-Aid Highway Program. Yet, as he became involved in community issues, he was appalled that little had changed since he left in 1978. “Local officials weren’t qualified and really weren’t doing things in the best interest of people,” he said. “The culture in city government was entrenched, very parochial. The mayor and administration at that time were unethical and had incredible financial conflicts of interests.” Rather than complain about the situation, Maestas decided to do something about it. Running first for a position on the city council in 2000, Maestas came from obscurity to defeat two incumbent opponents who had more than 30 years of combined experience in local government. Still, his lone vote was insufficient to bring about change. So in 2004, he handpicked three newcomers who all ran on a platform of open, accountable and honest government. They swept all four positions, but that only caused deadlocks that were broken by the mayor. In 2006, Maestas decided to run for mayor and found four more newcomers to share his platform. They swept all five positions. Finally, Maestas could bring about the large-scale reforms for which he had campaigned. Together they reorganized city government and removed all the commissioners on the city planning board, several of whom were developers pushing their projects through the system. They also enacted a comprehensive ethics code to regulate the governing body. “Having such a strong ethical code of conduct is unprecedented in this area,” Maestas said. “We’ve strengthened rules regarding drug testing and nepotism. We’re reforming, almost rebuilding government, establishing structure, creating a vision that is shared by all employees, empowering them to have a voice at the table.” In addition to a strong ethical code of conduct, often lacking in politics, Maestas says that engineers in elected public office also offer a broader perspective, a sense of objectivity and a skill set that helps them translate issues into concrete problems that require solutions. “Once we figure out the most cost-effective, efficient solution, we do it,” he said. “We don’t maneuver; we don’t posture or delay as many non-engineer politicians do. There is an engineering (or the most practical) solution, and there is a SHPE ❘ Fall 2008 An Engineer and a Politician S cale, visibility and permanence of projects attracted Joseph Maestas to civil engineering. They also led him to a career in public service. After a 23-year career with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation, his experience in the implementation of federal transportation policy inspired and prepared him to shape policy decisions at the local level. Today, he does just that as mayor of Española, New Mexico. It also comes as no surprise that the characteristics of a good engineer – meticulous attention to detail, adherence to a strong ethical code, professionalism and ability to translate the implications of technology – earned him a reputation as a political reformer. Located in the northern part of the state and with a population of less than 10,000, Española has been described by some as the epitome of a small Hispanic community that had not modernized itself politically. Enter Joseph Maestas, a young, well-educated and articulate man from the community who left to pursue an engineering career, but returned to improve his beloved community. Growing up in rural Santa Cruz as the fifth of six children, Maestas credits his parents, Josephine (a homemaker) and Fabian (a public school math and science teacher) for instilling in him the need for a good education, a strong sense of right and wrong and the importance of helping others. When he left home to earn a B.S. in civil engineering at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, he took those values with him. As he participated in summer internships and co-ops with the New Mexico Highway Department, Bechtel Corporation, the Bureau of Land Management and the Public Service Company of New Mexico, he learned to appreciate their application within engineering. Upon graduation in 1983, Maestas accepted a position with the FHWA and traveled extensively in his first 27 months. He finally landed in Phoenix, Arizona, where, for seven years, he was involved in the planning, design, social and environmental impact analysis, oversight, administration and safety of highway construction projects. During this time, he also earned an M.S. in civil engineering at Arizona State University through the FHWA’s Academic Joseph Maestas Study Program. His thesis involved cuttingedge research related to pavement materials and technology as well as non-destructive testing and was recognized by the American Association of State Transportation Officials. Maestas also joined the Phoenix Professional Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and served as vice president during 1989-1990. In 1991, the chapter made SHPE history when it hosted the first annual conference held outside of Los Angeles, California. Maestas then accepted a promotion to Washington, D.C., where, for four years, he oversaw research implementation and international technology transfer at FHWA headquarters. He returned to Santa Fe in 1996 to work in the New Mexico Division Office and administer statewide and metro- 32

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Fall 2008

SHPE - Fall 2008 Contents President's Letter From the Vice President Calendar of Events National Board of Directors The Great '08: Chapter Leaders Learn to Spread 'SHPE Fever' Browser National Retreat Provides a Redefinition An Engineer and a Politician Capitalizing on Engineering Talent Grupos de Afinidad A Focused Approach to Getting the Job You Really Want SHPE Conference 2008 IPC Update Programs & Services Keeping Warm with 'Yuper' Familia Spirit Promise of Spring Recruit, Engage and Retain Regional Student Representatives Regional Roundup Advertisers Index

SHPE - Fall 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.