Whitney Broughton
State Affairs Director of Governmental Relations, Texas Association of School Boards
Texas A&M Bush School of Government & Public Service, Master of Public Service and Administration 2012
What I do
For the last 76 years, TASB Governmental Relations has sought to help school board members from across the state stay informed of the legislative process, advocate on behalf of districts and students, and provide timely information to the legislature to help inform the process. I work to ensure our team consistently tracks legislative bills relevant to our members and that they are prepared to effectively convey their needs on any given subject.
What inspired my passion for public service
My path to public service amusingly begins with a burnt orange fashion statement and a big dream. I was at the 1995 Cotton Bowl with my parents for the UT versus OU game where Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. She walked out on the field in a solid burnt orange Chanel suit. I turned to my mom and said, "I am going to work for her one day." My first job out of undergraduate studies was an internship with Senator Hutchison in Washington, D.C.
My passion for public service solidified after the 9/11 attacks. I was a freshman in high school when that terrible event occurred. So many of my fellow high school students signed up for military service. I saw a need for public service here at home. I started actively watching the news from that day forward and following the political process. My way of giving back is to serve my community through public service.
How the Bush School of Government & Public Service prepared me
The Bush School was my linchpin for success. The knowledge and skills I gained while studying there inform my daily work. Additionally, the prestige of the Bush School unlocks so many doors and possibilities. Personally, President George H.W. Bush’s dedication to public service is a constant driver. Public service is a noble calling, and the job is never done.
Something that might surprise people
Working the legislative session every odd year for 140 days sounds like a cush gig. I think what people are shocked by is how much work goes into those 140 days, and how much work happens in the two years before the 140 days start. The process is aptly described as “sausage making.” We truly do two years of work within the 140 days of the session that impact large swaths of the state and the education system. It shocks me every day how vital it is to bring experts and practitioners into the conversation on legislation to ensure implementation is possible and unintended consequences are avoided.