Covacevich: A Man Shouting in the Desert of the RGV

Mr. Juan Maldonado was very passionate about the injustice and discrimination in the Rio Grande Valley and his passion could be heard throughout South Texas. I believe that this shouting was also heard by businesses and institutions. It was during this time that professors from then Pan American University heard the cries and decided to do something about it.

Anthony Covacevich

During this time Pan American University applied and was awarded an internship program that would introduce young Hispanics to the career of public administration. It was the only undergraduate program funded by HUD of its type in the Nation. Among its administrators were Dr. Jerry Polinard and Dr. Gary Mounce. Students were recruited to participate in a program that would place them in various cities and public organizations working directly with the city manager or program director for 20 hours a week. The students were provided with a stipend and had to attend classes at night twice a week for the semester they interned.

This program introduced young Hispanic individuals to a career path in public administration that, at that time, was filled by administrators recruited from outside the Valley. The government closest to the people was run by individual that did not know the culture or language of the majority population that they served. The curriculum was post graduate material as was commented by some graduate students from the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs who came down to recruit students to attend UT. They were surprised that we were studying from the same book they used at in their graduate classes at LBJ.     

Many local students participated in the program and went on to hold top administrative positions when they completed the program. Among them were Judge Fernando Mancias, Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa, Pharr City Manager Benito Lopez, and yours truly. I worked under Cecil Massey who was the first city manager for Weslaco. I went on to serve the City of Weslaco for over 12 years in various capacities and before working for Hidalgo County Judge J. Edgar Ruiz to create the Urban County Program. I administered this program for 13 years and obtained over $165 million of public infrastructure funds for projects benefiting the low and moderate income citizens of Hidalgo County.

I truly believe that this shouting in the RGV desert by Mr. Maldonaldo was not in vain and led to a more responsive access to public service.

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by former Weslaco city manager and Hidalgo County Urban County Program director Anthony Covacevich. The column appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the permission of the author. Covacevich can be reached by email via: covacevich@aol.com.

The post Covacevich: A Man Shouting in the Desert of the RGV appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.