Defining Civic Engagement: Joe DeGaetano

As we prepare for our latest Causeway Challenge, we’ve had the pleasure of hearing some very different perspectives on the words “civic engagement.” Every week between now and the end of July, we will be sharing a different person’s thoughts on what it means to be civically engaged.

Causeway
Causeway
Jul 10, 2017 · 2 min read

Joe’s family moved to Chattanooga from New York in 1979. After moving away for college and law school, he returned to Chattanooga and still calls it home, now with his wife and daughter. He is a self-employed lawyer, and the Chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party. Running for county-wide office in 2012 opened his eyes to “the fact that most candidates and elected officials are regular people who decided to take action to make a positive difference in our government.”


We can all look up the definition of “civic engagement,” but what does it mean to you personally?
To me, civic engagement means paying attention to government and getting involved when you think you can make a positive difference. Paying attention means reading, watching, and listening to news stories about what our government is doing for us (or to us). Getting involved can mean contacting elected officials to express an opinion, attending legislative sessions, volunteering to serve on a City or County board, supporting a candidate for office, or running for office yourself.

How does your concept of civic engagement inform your work or daily life?
I try to read as many news articles, from as many different sources, as possible throughout the day. While at the gym each morning, I spend about 30 minutes reading subtitles on three different cable news channels, to see how different groups differently perceive and react to the same events. If I see something that interests or concerns me, I’ll try to do some additional research, and decide whether there is anything I can do to bring attention to the issue.

Let’s talk about failures. What are we getting wrong about civic engagement as a city?
Voter apathy is the biggest disappointment I’ve noticed. Often, fewer than one in five registered voters bother to vote in an election. Good government requires active citizens. Casting an informed vote in each election is the least we can do. If we’re not voting, we’re probably not paying attention.

Let’s talk about potential. Tell us about something happening locally that gives you hope, or that could grow into something good?Chattanoogans have a lot of civic pride. When people are proud of their community, they are more likely to want to be involved in it. The more people become informed and involved in our community, the better our government (and therefore our community) will be.

Waying In

a blog from Causeway

Causeway

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Causeway

Causeway inspires and equips Chattanoogans to develop smarter solutions to our city's toughest challenges.

Waying In

Waying In

a blog from Causeway

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