President's Message - Spring Issue 2002

ACCA Membership Accepts Challenge From President

The members of the Etowah County legislative delegation drafted and passed a legislative resolution thanking and honoring me as the president of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. It was an honor to go on the floor of the state Senate to receive the resolution along with other members of the Etowah County Commission.

Then later on the legislators presented the resolution during a meeting of our county commission "back home." Again, I appreciated the recognition and the honor.

But the presentation of the award got me thinking about what it really means to be president of this organization.

During my time in office, the commissioners elected to serve as president have been elected for a variety of reasons. Some had exhibited strong leadership skills. Some had gained recognition for accomplishments on the local level. And some had gained the respect of the membership because of their contribution to the ACCA.

Each one of those presidents, however, was called upon to lead in his own way and during a set of circumstances that was unique to his year as president. Some faced trying times for one reason or another. Then some presidents, like myself, were lucky enough to serve during a time of association prosperity.

I have, however, been extremely pleased with the way the membership has accepted the challenge placed before it during our convention last August. At that time, I pointed out that most of the work of the Association was being carried out by a small number of people. I then told those who were not actively involved in ACCA work that "it is simply not acceptable for you to sit by and let others do the Association's work for you and your county."

I guess those words, or perhaps the leadership of the Association's board of directors, has helped more of you to get involved. The attendance at the County Commission Days and County Day at the Legislature were outstanding this year -- resulting in another successful legislative year for counties.

Our district meetings were again attended by a large group of county officials and I am looking forward to a convention that might break all attendance records. But the most important accomplishment has been the willingness of county officials to call legislators and to work on issues that will make Alabama's county governments better.

This legislative session was a trying one for counties and for the ACCA staff. Because of four special sessions during the 2001 year, this regular session was the sixth legislative session in 13 months. Legislators -- and even county officials -- were a bit tired of being in Montgomery.

But, again, you never backed down from the many conflicts that arose during the year and you were always willing to make those calls and to make your voice heard in Montgomery. As your president, it was very gratifying to know that the members were working hard on the improvement of county government.

In a little more than a month, the Republican and Democratic Parties will hold primaries to pick nominees for the 140 seats in the Alabama Legislature. Then in November, the voters statewide will select perhaps the most important group of legislative leaders in our lifetime.

With the public's growing demand for constitutional reform -- and therefore for the shifting of more authority to the local level -- this legislative group will be asked to chart the course for this reform effort. Will we have a constitutional convention, rewrite the constitution article-by-article or simply continue to be hamstrung by a 100-year-old constitution?

For all the discussion of reform, the decision will rest in the hands of the 105 members of the Alabama House of Representatives and the 35 members of the Alabama Senate who will be elected in November.

Counties will, of course, be dramatically altered by the decision. If the constitution is changed, it almost certainly will include a new role for county government, one that will include more authority and more responsibility. If the constitution is not changed, then many counties will be left to look for local solutions to the statewide problem of local authority.

It is important that we double our efforts and that we become even more actively involved in this Association and its daily effort to speak for the betterment of our state. I believe we have all learned that together we can impact the legislative process in a way that has surprised many in Montgomery.

Back in August, I closed my remarks with "Remember there is no one else to speak for county government except this Association. And the ACCA cannot speak without you." Those words remain true today.

In less than six months a new president will take over the reigns of our important Association. The wonderful Legislative Resolution -- along with other remembrances of my year -- will be hung on the wall of my office and I will be one of those "past presidents". I will continue to work for the ACCA, but my time as president will be over.

But my dedication to our "cause" will not stop simply because my tenure will end. I have made a permanent commitment to work for this Association and for better county government in our state. And from all indications, I don't think I am by myself.