President's Message - September/October 1999

Hayes Directs Association Toward the Ballot Box, the Finish Line and a Common Mind
Below is the text of the speech delivered by new ACCA President Roger Hayes during the Sponsors Banquet at the 71st Annual Convention.

ãPresident Jones, Vice Presidents Culver and Williams. Immediate Past President Menefee, Past Presidents Key, McCollum, McNair, Bennich and Dunn, members of the board of directors, fellow county officials, ladies and gentlemen. It is indeed an honor for me to rise tonight as the new president of an Association that is not only "our Association" but is also the Association of everyone back home that depends on county government.

It was at this convention three years ago that I decided that I would like to seek the office of president. I appreciate the confidence that you placed in me when you first elected me and I am deeply honored tonight that my time has arrived and that we can move forward together.

When the idea of serving as an officer first was discussed around our home, Connie and I did not get out the calendar and determine that we wanted to time our year so that I would be president on Jan. 1, 2000. But it has worked out that way. I have the distinct honor of being both the first president of the first decade of 2000 and the last president of the 1990's - all in the same year. And this distinction brings with it a unique set of challenges.

Each year at this time the president tells you about his plans for the upcoming 12 months. Many of you have listened to a number of speeches from new presidents over the years. But this speech will be a little different because my goals must be set with one eye on the 1990's and one eye on the new century.

So that we can focus our effort in the most effective way, I have summarized my three goals for the year in a phrase that you will hear many times and one that I believe will lead to a "grand" new century for our Association. This year I want us to focus our attention on - "the ballot box; the finish line; and a common mind." Let me say that again, we are going to focus on "the ballot box; the finish line; and a common mind."

Let's start by looking at "the ballot box." This year counties have an enormous challenge at the ballot box, and I'm not talking about any of you who are seeking re-election - you will have to walk that road alone. This challenge involves the passage of two constitutional amendments and begins next month with amendment #2 - our attempt to stop supernumeraries. The ratification of that amendment is vitally important to the financial future of our counties. The amendment cannot pass unless you make it your personal crusade. And the time for the crusade to begin is tomorrow morning when you return home. You must tell the public about this amendment and its importance to counties and you must do it before October 12.

Then in June we have another ballot box challenge with the consideration of the amendment that would place our oil lease trust fund money into the constitution. The money counties receive from the Alabama Trust Fund investments must be protected if counties are to make any long-range financial plans without fear that the money could be diverted by legislative action. Again, this amendment will pass if we dedicate ourselves to that effort.

These two ballot initiatives represent a large enough challenge for any year. If the amendments are ratified, it will have been a very successful year. However, we have other things to consider during the next 12 months.

We must continue to run toward "the finish line" on a number of on-going projects. The two presidents sitting up here tonight - Stanley Menefee and Sam Jones - started our Association down important tracks that we must finish. Under the leadership of President Menefee we adopted a long-range plan for the Association and much has been accomplished from that plan - the Association's new web-site; a more active presence in the legislative arena; and the revitalization of our education programs, to name a few. But we have not yet reached the finish line. This year I will ask the Presidents Council of 21 to reconvene to look at the plan and to determine what steps are needed to keep our Association moving in the right direction as the 21st century dawns.

And President Jones began a number of initiatives that we must push toward the finish line, as well. None of us should be willing to rest until funding to correct our bridge crisis is received in every courthouse in this state. We have waited too long and I pledge to you - Sam - and to the members of this association that I will not back down. We must have additional funding for our rural transportation system in Alabama.

And on the broader issues that have been raised this year - growth management and self-governance - I will, with your help and support, pick up that baton and carry it on toward the finish line. It is time for our state to move forward into the new century and those forward steps cannot be taken until our leaders embrace new ideas rather than grasping the out-dated ideas of the past.

And that brings us to the third portion of our plan -- "a common mind." When I looked at the exciting cover of this year's convention program and started thinking about a "grand" new century and what it might mean to counties, I always came back to one idea. It is an idea that has served us well in the last decade and one that will serve us - if we will not lose sight of it - in the 21st century. Our ability to speak and be heard in Montgomery will last only as long as we stand together and deliver one message. And I hope each of you realizes that fact.

I stand tonight between two leaders whose counties seem very different from mine - Sam Jones, a district commissioner from Mobile whose district has more than 5 times as many people as my entire county; and Mark Culver, a county-wide elected chairman from a county of 90,000 people in the south-eastern corner of Alabama. I'm from rural Winston County in the northwestern part of our state and I would seem to have little in common with these two officials.

But each of you know that is not true. Our strength rests with our ability to look past the differences and focus our attention on our common needs, our common shortcomings and our common hopes. There are constant attempts to split us apart. In fact, those who oppose county government in this state have only one hope - to divide us. Republican against Democrat, southern against northern, rural against urban, unit against district, and the selfish against those with a common mind. We succeed when we defeat these attempts at division and we fail when we lose sight of our common goals.

I have 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, so that we can all contribute to the common mind. This effort will not be successful, however, if those appointed decide not to participate. Again, giving of your time and energy is part of having a common mind. And we trust that each of you will participate when called upon.

I believe that if we will focus our attention this year on maintaining that common mind - a view that allows us to see past our differences -- we will realize even more success. This year is vitally important to county government's future and our common mind is essential to our success.

If we overcome the challenges ahead - two constitutional amendments, funding for transportation needs, another successful legislative year, continued growth in association participation, better involvement by all counties - then this year will be remembered as the vital link between old county government and the new century. If we fail, then we'll be remembered for that, too.

The challenge is great. But as I look around this room, I see a strong group of warriors. Some of you have survived battles much more difficult than the ones we will face this year. Let's all pick up our swords, and get ready for a "grand" new century by working on "the ballot box, the finish line and a common mind."

Thank you very much for your attention and support.ä