The Ethics of Advocacy

Session 6A | Thursday | 4:00 – 5:15 PM (PT)

About the Session

This session focuses on the duty under the AICP Code of Ethics to advocate for social justice, inclusion in public engagement, and local policy choices and statewide legislative reforms that serve the broad and long-term public interest. Experienced practitioners will share examples of how individual planners and APA Washington have applied the ethics of advocacy and provide tips about how to effectively live an ethic of advocacy while protecting your job. The session will include inter-active scenarios for audience members to consider how to apply these principles to a real-world context.

About the Moderator

Robin Proebsting, AICP

APA Washington Legislative Committee

Robin is the Chair of the APA Washington Legislative Committee. She is a Legislative Analyst for King County, and previously was a Senior Planner for the City of Mercer Island, an Associate Planner for the City of Sammamish, and an Assistant Planner for the City of Corvallis. She holds a Masters Degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Washington.

About the Speakers

Steve Butler, FAICP

Steve Butler is the Policy and Planning Manager at MRSC where he has served for eight years. He previously served as the planning director for the cities of Milwaukie in Oregon and Mill Creek and Seatac in Washington State. Steve holds a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning Degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from St. Lawrence University. He is a past president of APA Washington and a member of the Professionals Council for the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington.

Joseph Tovar, FAICP

Joe is an Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Washington, has served as a planning director for four cities, a member of the State Growth Management Hearings Board, and a planning consultant. He led two statewide reviews of Washington’s planning laws which led to adoption of bills in the last three legislative sessions. He is a past President of both the Washington City Planning Directors Association and the Washington Chapter of APA, and currently serves on the Legislative Committee of APA Washington. Joe holds a Master of Urban Planning Degree from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of California.

Elizabeth Chamberlain, AICP

Elizabeth is the City Manager for the City of Walla Walla, prior to which she served as the Development Services Manager. She has also served as the Planning and Design Services Manager for the City of Auburn, and Associate Planner for the City of Bonney Lake, and a planning technician for the City of Federal Way. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from the University of Washington and is a graduate of the Holy Names Academy.

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