Clarence Wittwer
Director of Public Works, Pearland, TX
So far, what’s your proudest accomplishment in 2019?
Having my previous team at the City of Houston and their experiences during Hurricane Harvey highlighted as the cover story for the January 2019 issue of Municipal Water & Sewer Magazine.
Valentines Day is in February. What do you “love” about your job?
I love being able to be in a career for the past 27 years where my team and I contribute daily to the growth and well being of citizens we serve. It is very satisfying to see projects take form after years of planning and then see how they benefit those we serve.
(Complete the sentence) Before I die I want to…
retire to Costa Rica or Panama, lay on the beach every day with a good book….AFTER I have seen those that I have mentored step up and take the reigns from my generation of public servant. Also, WHEN I die I don’t want my name on a plaque on some damned public building. I want to be cremated and have my ashes flushed down the toilet so that I find my way back to a wastewater treatment plant where it all started.
10 Year Challenge! What were you doing in 2009? How did it help you reach your current position?
In 2009 I was the Superintendent of a large surface water treatment plant for the City of Baytown. While I had previous extensive experience in all other sections of Public Works I had never had any direct experience with Surface Water Treatment Plants, only groundwater treatment experience and book knowledge. NOTHING can replace hands on experience.
(Complete the sentence) The first time I heard about ELGL was…
I was scrolling Twitter and saw our City Manager and 2018 Traeger nominee Clay Pearson sporting the most fabulous socks I have ever seen followed by some ELGL re-shares that made me realize there was a group out there for Public Servant weirdos just like me, my long lost family!
What question should we have asked?
What do you think of salad? It’s the food that my food eats…..