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President's Message
- Volume 53, Number 4 - 2009
Meet ACCA’s new president, Escambia County Commissioner Larry White.
President White’s focus during his tenure will to continue in the footsteps of his predecessors by allowing the Association to remain a strong, unified voice for county government in Alabama.
"Good evening. We have reached the conclusion of what has been a day of transition for Larry White and for this Association. It has been an exciting day for me and my family. And, as we reach the conclusion of the convention, we now have some extra time for reflection and renewal before we return to our homes to face another 12 months of challenges.
“Perhaps now more than any other time in our memories, the challenges awaiting us back home are severe and personal. The decisions we will all be forced to make at budget time this year, and the decisions we’ll make during the next 12 months, will not be a selection between two reasonable alternatives. Most of us will be expected to make decisions that will impact the lives of our employees and the citizens that rely on our services in a dramatically negative way.
“It is for that reason that I am energized about being president of this Association during such a time of transition. For as we move forward into what must be called ‘uncharted waters’ for most of us, the one dependable oar that we have at our disposal is this Association. If we are to emerge from these challenging times as a better organization, and if our services to our citizens are to be consistent, then this Association will be our safe harbor.
“As the Association’s leader for the next 12 months, you have my pledge that I’ll focus on continuing the tradition that has been set by those who have come before me – this Association will continue to be a strong, unyielding and unified voice for county government in this state. Together, we’ll make it through these difficult times.
“This evening we reach the end of a remarkable convention for this organization. We’ve focused our discussions on the economic conditions that challenge our very ability to provide the most basic services to our citizens and our employees; we examined our role in important activities, such as preparing our citizens for another outbreak of pandemic flu; and outlined our hopes for another bridge replacement program for county roads.
“We have also embarked on a new Association year, for the first time in almost four decades, with a new president and a new executive director.
“Now, that’s what I call ‘transition.’ Last year at this time I was elected as First Vice President, not Second Vice President, but First Vice President. Under normal circumstances, a newly-elected officer has the opportunity to get his or her feet wet as Second Vice President, then serve as First Vice President and then, after two years of preparation, becomes President. Because of unusual circumstances, I was elected First Vice President just 12 months ago, and now I stand before you as your President.
“If you take the dictionary definition of ‘transition, which is ‘Passage from one form, state, style or place to a NEW one,’ then I’ve certainly undergone a ‘transition’ in the last few months. So has our organization.
“As you all know, our long-time executive director retired just five months ago. Our new executive director is sitting at the head table with us tonight. Now, he’s not really NEW. He’s been a part of county government in Alabama for more than 20 years, and he’s stood with us and in front of us during many, many battles. But, he is new in his position, which represents a major ‘transition’ for ACCA and for him.
“The board of directors are very pleased that Sonny Brasfield is our executive director. We know we will not step backward, nor will our progress skip even one beat. Sonny’s dedication to county government and to this Association is perhaps his most important skill. It has been my pleasure to work with him over the years, and I am looking forward to the next 12 months. I know the Association will continue to grow and serve our counties in an outstanding and new way.
“So, as we move toward our new year together – he and I, the board of directors, our affiliate groups, our members, and all of you – it is important that we recognize that there are some things that are, in fact, NEW, but that doesn’t mean we should allow the important things to be different.
“From my seat and from Sonny’s, we will promise you that some things may be new, but the important things won’t be different. I’ll work to follow the leadership that has come before me. I know the value of this Association, as well as anyone in this state, and I will not let you down. The important things, most certainly, will not be different.
“Since becoming a member of the Escambia County Commission – I’m now in my fourth term – I’ve participated first-hand in a number of Association ventures. All of the activities have required an investment of my time – for, just like you, I can always find a reason NOT to participate. There are always other activities that call out for my attention – personal duties, professional duties at my insurance agency or my radio station, county commissioner duties at home and many others. But, I’ve found that if I want to accomplish anything in my role as county commissioner, the key to my success is this Association.
“This organization IS the voice of county government. It is our resource, our counsel, our anchor. This organization has guided me and Escambia County through the most challenging and confusing of times. The staff has provided guidance, expertise and credibility that none of us could garner on our own. The friendships and relationships made in this organization have benefitted me in too many ways to even describe tonight.
“Much of our focus is on legislative accomplishments, as it should be. From a statewide perspective, it is hard to single out one legislative achievement because this Association has, during the past 15 years, rewritten Alabama law as it relates to county government.
“Now, that’s not to say that we do not have challenges before us, because we do. But, our accomplishments are really without peer in this state. The passage of statewide legislation – and more importantly the defeat of legislation that would negatively impact county government – will continue to be our focus in the coming year.
“As I said, things are new around the Association right now. But we cannot, we will not, let the important things be DIFFERENT. Our participation, our goals, our efforts, our commitment to each other, our unified voice on behalf of county government, our resistance to unfunded mandates – all of these important things must remain the same.
“The faces may change. Just this afternoon, a new president was elected, Clay County Commissioner Ricky Burney moved up to First Vice President, and a new Second Vice President — Etowah County Commissioner Tim N. Choate — was elected. A new executive director has been hired. The staff members have new and refined duties. Those things are new. But, the important things; well, those things are not going to be DIFFERENT.
“And, in my year as president, the major challenge is to keep our eyes on the things that should not be – that cannot be – changed while taking advantage of the opportunity to provide a new vision of what the Association can be. Such a challenge, especially at this time in our Association’s history, is a delicate and substantial one.
“There are so many benefits to being a part of an organization that has established itself as willing to take chances and to search for solutions – even if that is difficult. Just this past year we looked at the issue of long-term debt and crafted legislation that not only requires counties to make a detailed evaluation of their financial condition before entering the bond market; but it also requires bond insurers to make complete and detailed disclosure of the fees and risks associated with such long-term debt. This landmark piece of legislation was passed with the agreement of the investment and bond community.
“Such an accomplishment is unprecedented. Simply put, organizations do not impose regulations or restrictions on their own members – unless the leadership of the organization has a vision and an insight into what is needed both today AND in the future. Tonight, I want to recognize and thank President Joe Faulk, the board, the leadership of the Association of County Administrators of Alabama, and our Association staff for the passage of this legislation, which should also increase public confidence and support for us on the local level.
“There is another issue before us tonight, another issue that cries out for attention – evaluation and change. Certainly the most talked about subject in our nation today is health care – right now a battle continues in the U.S. Congress over major changes in the delivery of health care to citizens.
“Back at the county courthouse level, the major issue related to health care is the rising costs of insurance premiums. As we return home tomorrow, perhaps the most difficult challenge all of us will face is budgeting for the increase in cost of health insurance for our employees.
“The people we depend on every day are traditionally underpaid, and we’ve all worked hard to provide benefits that make-up for the level of their compensation. But, that is getting harder as the cost of health insurance rises year after year. This year, the premiums most counties pay will increase by 10 percent; and this increase will hit at a time when our budgets are flat – at best.
“That is why I am organizing a Task Force on Health Insurance Costs (see article on p. 24) to look closely at this issue and make recommendations for possible steps that can be considered for future years. This group will be co-chaired by our two representatives to the Local Government Health Insurance Advisory Committee – Crenshaw County Commissioner Charlie Sankey and Lee County Administrator Roger Rendleman. I want to thank both of these two outstanding leaders for their willingness to work on this most important issue.
“I realize that this issue is, perhaps, the most complex problem facing our nation. But on the county commission level, the issues are a bit easier to bring into focus – we just need to be able to provide our employees and their families with access to affordable health insurance.
“This task force will include commissioners and administrators and will work hand-in-hand with our partners at the State Employees Insurance Board to evaluate options that are available to us and provide us all with some new ideas for improvement. In the midst of the financial challenges facing all of us, I believe this issue is of the utmost importance. This Association has faced issues like this before and I am confident that, together, we’ll find a workable solution in the coming months.
“That’s what we do. We identify problems, find workable solutions and implement our plans. It is a tried and true formula. And, it is not something we’ll throw out this year, simply because it is a time for something new.
“Health care is not the only problem facing us at the local level, and it will not be the only focus of our work together. We’ll also enhance our efforts on increased funding for road and bridge projects, economic development, funding for our newly-created disaster recovery fund, a long-term evaluation of our 9-1-1 programs, improvements to the process for the collection of taxes on the local level, and the implementation of a new educational program for county employees. All of these goals are important and will require the commitment of all county officials and employees.
“This year’s district meetings will be held earlier to give each of you the opportunity to provide input into the legislative program BEFORE it is adopted. Please be a part of this process, and offer us your ideas and advice as we get ready for a most challenging year.
“As I said at the outset, I am excited and ready for this year of transition, and I accept this challenge; confident that each and every one of you will join me in my pledge for this to be a year of NEW opportunities, NEW challenges and NEW solutions. Challenges, opportunities and solutions that will help us continue our outstanding record as we face perhaps the most difficult year of our careers in public service.
“I know you will join me. That’s your style. And that’s the game plan we’ve followed each and every time we’ve faced a difficult challenge. We’ll stand together. We’ll face the problems, and we’ll overcome them. Together.
“Even though many, many things may be NEW this year, I know I can also depend on you to stand with me to ensure that the important things – the cornerstones upon which this Association is built – will not be different.”
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