Becky Mowbray appointed new chief of BGR

By Jeff Adelson

Source: The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

January 6, 2022

Former journalist and government watchdog Becky Mowbray will take the reins at the Bureau of Governmental Research later this month as the independent policy group’s new president and CEO.

Mowbray will replace Amy Glovinsky, who announced she would step down from leading the influential advocacy organization in October after six years at its helm.

“I think that I want build on the excellent work that Amy Glovinsky has done in her six years at BGR,” Mowbray said. “The board is very diverse at this point, it includes a lot of different perspectives from throughout the metro area and I think that will help BGR in making sure its doing the work that is most important to people within the realm of the core issues of good government, fiscal responsibility, proper planning and looking for effective outcomes for citizens.

“BGR’s work is all about the idea that citizens have a right to expect a government that works for them,” she said.

Mowbray spent 18 years as a journalist, including time at The Times-Picayune, the Houston Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times. She also spent eight years in the New Orleans Inspector General’s Office as an assistant inspector general and program evaluator.

That experience will prove important for her new role, Mowbray said. But she also noted BGR’s broader scope – it analyzes and offers recommendations to all forms of government in the New Orleans metro area – and role in helping shape rather than just respond to policy matters.

“You can lead with an idea and put forward-thinking ideas about what can be to help the city move forward,” she said. “You’re not just restricted to looking at what has been, but you can chart what should be and help proactively solve problems.”

Most recently, she has worked as deputy commissioner for public affairs in the state Department of Insurance.

For nearly a century, the group has weighed in on policy matters in the New Orleans area, producing reports and analyses of budgets, taxes and other governmental policy measures. The group’s endorsements on tax and bond measures are highly sought by local officials.

“Becky will be an asset to BGR with her extraordinary track record of success,” board chair Norma Grace said in a news release. “She has a deep awareness and understanding of the key public policy issues that concern our city and the region. I am completely confident that she is the person to continue the inspiring path and trajectory that Amy Glovinsky has established at BGR.”

Fair Use Notice

This site occasionally reprints copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of issues and to highlight the accomplishments of our affiliates. We believe this constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is available without profit. For more information go to: US CODE: Title 17,107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond “fair use,” you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.