Executive Director's Report - September/October 1999

ACCA Membership Shows Collective Wisdom In Selecting Leaders
The Annual Convention of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama always marks the beginning of a new year for the organization. A new president and vice presidents are elected by the full membership and members of the Board of Directors and Legislative Committee are elected from the respective Association districts. I have said it many times before and now I feel compelled to say it again - I am always amazed at the collective wisdom of the Association membership when it selects its leaders. Upon reviewing the list of leaders elected at this year's convention, I am convinced that that collective wisdom has come through again.

Those who were fortunate enough to hear the acceptance speech of new President Roger Hayes from Winston County know that the Association is in good hands. The speech, which focused on "The Ballot Box, The Finish Line and A Common Mind," is a clear indication that the new president has a clear vision of the direction the Association must travel, not only during the next twelve months, but during the years to come.

The Association's members were also wise in electing Mark Culver from Houston County as First Vice President and Billy Ray Williams from Etowah County as Second Vice President. These two veteran county commissioners are proven leaders and will provide strong support for President Hayes.

The Association's Board of Directors, with one exception, remained the same as it was during the 1998-1999 year. This is good because the previous board had a proven record of accomplishment. The Association's membership again showed its collective wisdom by keeping a strong leadership team intact.

One of the first responsibilities of the Association's president is to appoint individuals to serve on the organization's various steering committees. The steering committees are assigned the responsibility of reviewing the Association's existing legislative agenda and general policy statements and recommend changes or additions. President Hayes stated in his acceptance speech that he has "…taken the first step toward renewing our common mind with the appointment of this year's steering committees. The committees include a representative from every county in this state…" The president is committed to seeing that representatives from all counties participate in developing the aims and goals of the Association.

Listed below are members of the Association's Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Legislative Committee and Steering Committees. The names of individuals who appear on the various lists are clear evidence that the Association is poised for another successful year.

ACCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Roger Hayes, Winston County
1st Vice President Mark Culver, Houston County
2nd Vice President Billy Ray Williams, Etowah County
District 1
Chuck Beard, Colbert County
District 2
Mike Gillespie, Madison County
District 3
Mike Stewart, Marshall County
District 4
Johnny Flowers, Perry County
District 5
Mary Buckelew, Jefferson County
District 6
John Carter, Talladega County
District 7
Rhondel Rhone, Clarke County
District 8
Jesse Upshaw, Macon County
District 9
Pete Trussell, Bullock County
District 10
Gary Tanner, Mobile County
Minority Director
Charlie Harris, Pike County

PAST PRESIDENTS
Sam Jones, Mobile County
Stanley Menefee, Limestone County
Dick Key, Lee County
Hardy McCollum, Tuscaloosa County
Chris McNair, Jefferson County
Larry Bennich, Morgan County
James "Pappy" Dunn, Calhoun County

AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVES
Steve Hicks, Pike County
President, AACCCA
Randall Tindell, Coffee County
President ACEA

ACCA LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN - Sam Jones, Mobile County

PAST PRESIDENTS
Stanley Menefee, Limestone County
Dick Key, Lee County
Hardy McCollum, Tuscaloosa County
Chris McNair, Jefferson County
Larry Bennich, Morgan County
James "Pappy" Dunn, Calhoun County

District 1 Hutson Parker, Lawrence County
District 2 Don Stisher, Morgan County
District 3 Stanley Batemon, St. Clair County
District 4 Vadus Moore, Bibb County
District 5 Gary White, Jefferson County
District 6 Lea Fite, Calhoun County
District 7 Allen Perdue, Baldwin County
District 8 Terry White, Lee County
District 9 Wylie Yelverton, Houston County
District 10 Freeman Jockish, Mobile County COUNTY

ADMINISTRATION STEERING COMMITTEE
Sandra Cumby, Barbour County
Sandra Everse, Bibb County
Phillip Jordan, Cherokee County
Bobby Agee, Chilton County
Rickey Burney, Clay County
Donna Myhan, Colbert County
Jerold Dean, Conecuh County
Steve Ballard, DeKalb County
Donald Means, Greene County
Ed Tubbs, Jackson County
Charlie King, Lowndes County
Omar Neal, Macon County
Prince Preyer, Madison County
James Brown, Montgomery County
Steve Hicks, Pike County
Melvin Vines, Tuscaloosa County
Mark Curl, Wilcox County
Quinton Humphries, Winston County

ACCA ENVIRONMENTAL STEERING COMMITTEE
Allen Perdue, Baldwin County
Robert Downing, Calhoun County
Raymond Uptagrafft, Choctaw County
Russell Emrick, Cleburne County
Randall Tindell, Coffee County
Wallace Whitley, Coosa County
Herman Judah, Dale County
Kim Ballard, Dallas County
Tony Sanks, Escambia County
Brian McKee, Etowah County
Mark Bryant, Jefferson County
Brenda Blankenship, Morgan County
Charles LeCroy, Perry County
Anthony Crear, Sumter County
Bruce Hamrick, Walker County

FINANCE AND TAXATION STEERING COMMITTEE
Vadus Moore, Bibb County
Pete Trussell, Bullock County
Gary Hanks, Butler County
Ellen Toland, Clarke County
Glen Powell, Covington County
Chad Kilcrease, Crenshaw County
George Spear, Cullman County
Earl Reeves, Elmore County
Alice Presley, Etowah County
Walter Allen, Hale County
Lamar Turner, Henry County
Mose Jones, Lawrence County
John Dendy, Lee County
David Seibert, Limestone County
Freddie Armstead, Marengo County
Tony Junkin, Pickens County
Leann Horne, Russell County
Butch Burbage, Shelby County
Jeanette Medders, Tallapoosa County
Willie Dixon, Washington County

ACCA RURAL TRANSPORTATION STEERING COMMITTEE
David Bufkin, Autauga County
Andy Graves, Blount County
Henry Hawkins, Chambers County
Floyd Lawrence, Colbert County
Bill Moss, Franklin County
Harry Adkinson, Geneva County
Chip Beeker, Greene County
Jerry Drake, Jefferson County
Mike Curtis, Lauderdale County
Mike Shaw, Marion County
Elton Sims, Marshall County
Joe Ruffer, Mobile County
Charlie McCorvey, Monroe County
Don Stisher, Morgan County
Dean Wysner, Randolph County
Randy Cole, Shelby County
Duane Stephens, Talladega County