President's Message - Convention Issue
2002
Johnny Flowers Assumes Role as ACCA
President
Below is the text of
the speech delivered by ACCA President Johnny Flowers,
elected at the ACCA’s 74th Annual Convention.
“President Billy Ray Williams,
Vice Presidents Mary Buckelew and Bruce Hamrick, Immediate
Past President Mark Culver, Past Presidents Roger Hayes,
Sam Jones, Stanley Menefee, Hardy McCollum, and my mentors
Larry Bennich and Pappy Dunn; members of the Board of
Directors, fellow county officials, ladies and gentlemen.
Tonight is a very special evening
for me, for my family and for the people of Perry County.
Words cannot express how grateful I am tonight for the
honor that has been bestowed upon me and I accept this
challenge with humility and gratitude.
While a child in rural Perry
County -- the grandson of a sharecropper -- I had many
dreams of a better life. But never in my childhood imagination
did I see myself being elected to public office in my
home county. And becoming the President of such a great
organization as the Association of County Commissions
of Alabama was beyond even my wildest dream. Yet here
I am.
This election is not the beginning
of a new year, but the continuation of leadership that
has benefited our state. Our leadership over the years
has reflected not only our membership, but also the citizens
of Alabama. Republicans and Democrats, Blacks and Whites,
Rural and Urban, District System and Unit System. Our
leaders have directed our association with an eye on our
entire membership, not looking only at their particular
county.
I think this is the biggest
thing about this Association that draws me into its service
-- we are all from different backgrounds and different
places but we consistently pull together for the common
good. It has been this sense of "oneness" that has enabled
us to be successful in every arena over the last several
years. And it is that sense of "oneness" that I hope will
be the theme of my year as president.
County government is very different
today. The challenges that are being placed upon each
of us -- the tough decisions that we are making together
-- have a direct impact on the future of our state. These
challenges require all of us to pull together and work
harder than ever before. I can promise you that I am no
stranger to hard work and I pledge to you tonight that
I assume the responsibilities of this job with an absolute
commitment to do whatever is necessary to make our Association
successful in its endeavors. If hard work can get it accomplished,
then I am ready and I know you are also ready.
I mentioned a moment ago that
I consider two of our past presidents as my mentors --
Pappy Dunn of Calhoun County and Larry Bennich of Morgan
County. I have learned much from both of these two leaders.
Their dedication to this Association, their willingness
to put our collective good ahead of any selfish desires
for their county, and their leadership skills have benefited
each one of you in this room. I cannot remember a time
that the call went out when these two commissioners did
not respond. More than that, when advice was needed they
made themselves available - always contributing and working
to carry out the agenda of the association. I have learned
something very important from them: "If changes are to
take place I must be a part of making those changes occur.
I cannot sit back and wait on others."
And during the next 12 months
I will work hard to uphold the trust these two men have
placed in me. Please join me in thanking them tonight.
As I have already said, I come
from a very rural county. And, as you might imagine, I
am the first Association President from Perry County.
There are many people from my home county here tonight.
They share my pride and my commitment to being a part
of positive change in our state.
You may not be aware of just
how small Perry County is. There are less than 12,000
residents in the entire county. With five of us on the
county commission, this means I have less than 2,500 people
in my entire district. But the problems I face throughout
the year and the problems my people face are not unlike
the problems faced by your constituents. The person next
in line to become president of our Association, Mary Buckelew
of Jefferson County, has about 133,000 people in her district.
But again, the problems in
her district aren't all that different from the problems
in my district. Those outside county government may believe
that Vice President Buckelew and I are very different,
but inside this Association we have a "oneness" that allows
us to be successful.
A black man. A white woman.
A Democrat. A Republican. One from a very small county.
One from the state's largest county. One from a county
characterized by financial challenge. One from the state's
financial and cultural center. But together we will form
a strong team; one that with your help will lead this
Association into very challenging times with vision, dedication,
hard work and "oneness".
Those outside this organization
may not understand the "oneness" that she and I share,
but each of you should rest assured that our different
backgrounds will make us an even stronger team during
the next two years.
Our Association has never been
divided along urban and rural lines, or according to political
party or any other factor. And I pledge to you that I
will not let that happen during my year as president,
either. I will be on guard against these or any other
issues that threaten our "oneness."
Our success as an association
is not so much about what we are together, but what we
would be if we were not together. Perry County and Jefferson
County cannot stand-alone. But together, we are going
to make a very tough team. I shutter to think what would
have happened to us over the last decade in the Alabama
Legislature if we had not stood together so strongly.
And we must not let this collective "oneness" be diminished,
even a little bit.
In the past, many of you have
made trips to Montgomery when called by the Association.
You have used your influence to make sure each county
problem was treated with the utmost concern and that every
county was considered, protected and assisted. This is
why I am so proud tonight to stand here as your new leader.
I know that my job is not mine alone - for I have each
of you standing shoulder to shoulder with me. And we have
stood together successfully before and we will stand together
successfully again.
Tonight, as we look toward
the future, I think we should also take a moment to look
back and thank those who have led our Association through
such successful times. For it is their leadership that
has brought us to this very proud point in our history.
I want to offer, again, my
personal thanks to Billy Ray Williams -- a man who loves
this Association, who loves county government and who
has led us with dedication and compassion. (lead in applause).
Billy Ray, we appreciate you very much.
Now, I want to ask those persons
who have served in the past as president of our Association
to stand up right now……There is Billy Ray Williams, Mark
Culver, Roger Hayes, Sam Jones, Stanley Menefee, Hardy
McCollum, Larry Bennich and Pappy Dunn. This group includes
district commissioners from both rural and urban counties,
countywide elected chairmen from both north and south
Alabama and a probate judge. All from counties that are
very different, but all part of our past and our future.
Thank you all for what you
have done for this Association.
During my tenure as a county
commissioner, I have watched county commissioners come
to ACCA meetings and workshops with problems that they
thought were unique to their county. But because we are
a strong, unified group that treats every member with
the utmost respect and concern, I have had the joy of
seeing those commissioners leave with a sigh of relief
knowing that they were not alone. The ACCA staff and its
leadership are working hard to find answers and solutions.
This is what makes me excited about this presidency, for
I know with each step that is made we get a little closer
to our goals. Goals that will not be met until every citizen
in the State of Alabama has a good quality of life and
a good safe environment in which to live and raise their
children and grandchildren.
One of the most important elements
in reaching this goal is returning the power to make decisions
to the local level. During the last several years, this
Association has put a lot of energy toward trying to get
home rule privileges for every county in Alabama. And
each year so far we have missed our goal. Even now as
we begin to look forward to the year 2003, our county
commissions are burdened with a constitution that is more
than 102 years old.
During this meeting you have
heard political candidates talk a lot about constitutional
reform. Tonight I believe it is the perfect time to again
make it clear that if anyone in this state thinks there
is going to be an effort to change Alabama's Constitution
that does not focus on granting County Government the
ability to deal with problems on the local level, they
are mistaken. It does not make sense to have constitutional
reform in the State of Alabama unless we address the most
fundamental of problems -- local control. The structure
of county government must be on the agenda and I promise
that this Association will be there to see that it is.
I know you join me in that pledge.
During this year I am also
going to ask our Board of Directors to explore how our
Association can contribute to the educational growth of
our next generation. We have excelled at representing
counties, influencing legislation, operating insurance
programs, and providing educational, technical and legal
assistance. But we can expand our influence.
I am not sure what direction
we should take, but I believe our Association should encourage
others to participate in and support county government.
We should encourage our brightest students to consider
careers in county government and we should make it easier
for our counties to employ people with outstanding skills.
And finally, I will be asking
each of you to provide us with insight into the problems
in your county. With the start of a new legislative term,
it is once again time to evaluate the needs of county
government in Alabama and to look for ways to improve.
It has been said many times that without a vision the
people will perish.
Well, not long ago this Association
had a vision that the bridges in our State could use a
$250 Million Dollar improvement and what we call Amendment
One was created. When the county elected officials were
constantly fighting in Montgomery over the issue of compensation,
this Association had a vision that we could work together
to achieve our goals. And what we call the Omnibus Pay
Bill was passed into law. And these are just two recent
examples of how our Association has identified a need
and worked to achieve what many thought was impossible.
We now face a similar problem.
There are those who believe a solution to the problem
of jail overcrowding is as impossible as finding $250
million for bridges. Today our overcrowded jails dominate
our county general fund budgets, they divert money from
important community needs and they present a danger to
our communities.
The solution to this problem
will not be painless and it will not be easily achieved.
For all the easy steps have already been taken. But this
is a problem that cuts across the state and touches every
county. We have solved the difficult problems before and
we must now focus our attention on solving this very important
prob-lem. For I am convinced that if we do not offer a
workable solution, then a workable solution will not be
offered.
Ten years ago a lawsuit was
filed over this issue. During the last 10 years little
has been done to change the root of the problem. And I
don't know about you, but I am tired of waiting on someone
else to find a solution. We will focus much of our time,
our energy and our influence on this issue during the
coming 12 months. I need your help, your ideas and your
elbow grease.
If a stranger walked into this
room tonight, he or she would probably see a group that
is very diverse. We have people of different races, people
of different financial backgrounds, people of different
religions. That same person might then assume that our
Association was not unified; that we could not speak with
one voice and that we would allow our problems to divide
and distract us.
That stranger would obviously
be wrong. Because I know you -- and I trust you know me.
Look around this room. This room is a reflection of our
great state -- we have outward differences, but an inner
strength and unity that cannot be extinguished. I am proud
to be your president, your colleague and -- most importantly
-- your friend. During this year I have been entrusted
with a great treasure -- the future of our Association.
I cannot protect and polish that treasure alone. I need
each of you because this is your Association.
I look forward to a productive,
enjoyable and memorable year. Thank You.
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