Meet TRWA’s New Legal and Legislative Services Director, Erin Selvera
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n March 7, 2016, TRWA welcomed our new Legal and Legislative Services Director, Erin Selvera. Erin will author our “Keep It Legal” column and other articles in Quench, work with TRWA members to resolve legal and regulatory issues, lobby on behalf of TRWA member utilities and represent members’ concerns on rulemakings at the Public Utility Commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Texas Water Development Board. Erin also will present on legal topics at our conferences and conventions. Be sure to look for her at our Training and Technical Conference coming up in July. Erin came to us from TCEQ where she served as special assistant to the Air Permits Division director for four years and staff attorney in the Environmental Law Division for seven. As a staff attorney, she represented the TCEQ executive director in contested cases regarding water utility rates, certificates of convenience and necessity and water right applications, and drafted new agency rules and revisions for the Water Utilities Division. Prior to TCEQ, Erin served as an assistant attorney general in the Child Support Division and as a project design assistant for Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. She received a Bachelor of Architecture in 1996 from the University of Houston and her Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2004. “Growing up in a semi-rural area on the outskirts of Houston had its share of benefits and learning opportunities. There was a lot of room to run and play on our four acres, but it came with a lengthy list of chores, from feeding the chickens, rabbits, pig and pony to sharing the enormous lawn mowing duties with my five siblings,” Erin said. “I also got to know firsthand how important a continuous supply of clean water is to my family and those we served. During the power loss we experienced due to hurricane Alicia and through the hot Texas summers, I watched my parents work tirelessly to keep the wells for our home and mobile home park up and running, taking water samples and making adjustments to the necessary chemicals. I’ve tried to carry forward their dedication
TRWA’s new Legal and Legislative Director Erin with her husband, Donovan, and son, Wyatt.
through a healthy work ethic and commitment to serve the people of Texas. “I’ve dedicated the last 11 years to water utilities, water rights and air regulatory issues for TCEQ. In my role as the new legal and legislative services director, I hope to continue that service to you. I feel so fortunate to be part of the TRWA team and look forward to helping you with your questions and representing you at the Capitol during the next legislative session.” Erin lives outside of Austin in Cedar Park with her husband Donovan and son Wyatt. She loves to build furniture and renovate homes in her spare time. You may contact Erin at (512) 472-8591 or by email at Erin.Selvera@trwa.org or legal@trwa.org. Quench — March/April 2016 15