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President's Message
- Volume 53, Number 2 - 2009
There's much more to the role of ACCA President than what happens during the Legislative Session.
This issue of the magazine focuses on the 2009 Regular
Session of the Alabama Legislature,
which ended in mid-May with a flurry of almost-surreal events. For those who were present for the
flood, the session in the old Capitol
and the unexpected retirement announcement of House Speaker Seth Hammett, this year’s session will always be a memorable one.
Of course, around the Faulk household this year’s session will be remembered as my year “in the legislative fishbowl,” to steal a line from one of my predecessors.
Through the years, there have been many jokes about past presidents measuring the success of their year as president by looking at the number of new laws enacted. Some past presidents, like old Mark Culver down in Houston County, are constantly harassed about what did – or in Mark’s case what “did not” – happen during their year.
I guess I’ll join in the jokes in a few months, especially since this was a very productive year in terms of convincing the legislature to enact new laws supported by our Association. But, I’ve learned there is much more to being a successful president than simply counting the number of good and bad pieces of legislation that pass while you hold the title of “ACCA President.”
In this role you are expected to speak for the Association on many fronts. You provide advice and leadership to the staff. You are to interject your own advice and opinions to the board of directors. You represent the Association often before boards and committees, most of which you didn’t know existed before you were elected president. You are also expected to hold the ship on course so it can be passed on to the next president in better shape than when you found it.
Though we focus much of our humor and good-natured joking around a president’s role in the legislative process, a president spends much time and effort on other issues. Focusing only on the legislature would be akin to an individual commissioner looking only at one aspect of his or her role as county commissioner. There’s much more to “it” than that.
Also in this magazine you’ll read our executive director’s view on the current relationship between the counties and the Alabama Department of Corrections. Former President Culver (the one who didn’t get much done in the legislature while he was president!) is quick to point out that most of the gains in our struggle with state prisoners were made while he was president. He’s right. There is more to being president than simply counting up the results of a legislative session.
With that said, I do want to issue a personal “thank you” to the many county employees and officials who traveled to Montgomery during this year’s session. Since I live just across the river from downtown Montgomery, it was fairly convenient for me to show up for committee hearings and other meetings on a moment’s notice.
Being a visible part of our legislative effort was much more difficult for many of you who must rearrange your work schedule to devote an entire day for the trip back and forth to Montgomery. On most occasions, I was gratified by the attendance and the active role so many of you took in this year’s legislative effort.
We faced a number of challenges. Perhaps more “dangerous” legislation was introduced this year than in other recent sessions. But, the results were very positive for counties, and the credit goes to the membership for its active role.
It was a good legislative session; yet, there IS much more to being president.
For example, the other day we held what has become our bi-monthly meeting with Joe McInnes, the director of the Alabama Department of Transportation.
Over the last year our relationship with ALDOT has improved, though there have been some rocky times, and I believe county government is benefiting from our sessions.
The meetings provide us an opportunity to talk frankly and openly about what’s right and wrong with the way counties and the department work together. We’ve identified problems, worked through solutions and, again, we’re already seeing the fruits of our efforts.
Mr. McInnes has been gracious with his time and the time of his staff. The relationship between counties and ALDOT should be one characterized by a theme of “oneness,” because the motoring public in Alabama does not understand the difference between county roads and state roads.
As all of us know from experience, the public certainly knows the difference between a “good” road and a “bad” road. But, no one really cares whether it is the county’s or state’s responsibility to make the repairs. They just want the repairs.
And, I guess, that’s what being president is all about. The membership can’t be worried about how or who gets things done. The important thing is that things get done. So far this year, with all your help, we should all be pleased.
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