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Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered the keynote address to the CalAPA Annual Dinner last week, sketching out an optimistic platform of growth and opportunity that could be a preview for an expected run for the state's top job.

Newsom's appearance Thursday night capped a flurry of activity in California political circles, starting with Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer's announcement that she would not seek re-election in 2016.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers the keynote speech at CalAPA's Annual Dinner in Los Angeles.

Newsom days later announced he would not seek the seat, virtually assuring that the 47-year-old former two-term mayor of San Francisco, just re-elected to the state's No. 2 job, would run for governor in 2018.

Newsom's speech Thursday night harkened back to an earlier era in California's history when the state's growth and optimism made it the Golden State of opportunity. Infrastructure played an important role in that growth, including the construction of the state's vast network of freeways, highways and roads.

It is perhaps fitting that the speech took place at the venerable Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles, which is filled with portraits of industry titans and world leaders who helped shape the history of California and the nation.

In recent decades, Newsom said, California has dumped "sand in the gears" of the state's economy with burdensome regulations and short-sighted decisions not to protect and enhance the state's infrastructure. As California closed overseas trade offices, other countries and states have come to California to lure away businesses to places where the cost of doing business is lower.

"We have been mortgaging our future the last 30 years," he said, adding: "The world that we invented is now competing against us. A little later he added, "the answer to our problems can be found by reading our own history. It's time for a growth strategy."

Specifically addressing the estimated $59 billion in unmet needs for

Past Board Chairman Jeff Reed with George Reed (left) presents a leadership award to outgoing 2014 Chair John Holliday with Holliday Rock.

maintaining California's system of freeways and highways, he said "the need is extraordinary." Noting that elected officials at the federal and state level have yet to agree on a long-term strategy for paying for roads, he said, "We have go to put our house in order. We must get serious about our deferred maintenance budget."

At the conclusion of the lieutenant governor's remarks, he leaned into some tough questioning from a few of the 150 in attendance, earning respect and warm handshakes from those who may disagree with him on some policy points.

Earlier in the evening, CalAPA outgoing chairman, John Holliday with Holliday Rock, was presented with a special leadership award for his service on the board of directors and role in the 2012 unification of two regional asphalt associations.

"As your outgoing chairman," he said, "tonight I can report to you that our brand is stronger than ever... and we can be proud of several important accomplishments that we achieved together in the past year." 

At the dinner the association officially installed the leadership for 2015: John Greenwood with Skanska USA (Chairman), Alan French with DeSilva Gates Materials (Vice Chairman), Mike Herlax with Syar Industries (Secretary), Scott Bottomley with Sully-Miller (Treasurer) and John Holliday with Holliday Rock (Immediate Past Chairman). Rounding out the Executive Committee for 2015 are Don L. Daley Jr. with California Commercial Asphalt, Marc Mitchell with Alon Asphalt Company, Mike Murrary with Vulcan Materials and Bill Darnell with Valero Marketing & Supply, with Len Nawrocki with Valero Marketing & Supply as an alternate.

To view more photos from the event, click HERE to visit CalAPA's Facebook Page. 

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (center) meets with 2015 CalAPA Officers (L-R): Scott Bottomley with Sully-Miller (Treasurer), Mike Murray with Vulcan Materials (Executive Committee), Newsom, Marc Mitchell with Alon Asphalt Company (Executive Committee), Len Nawrocki with Valero Energy (Executive Committee), and Mike Herlax with Syar Industries (Secretary).