Meet the Candidates — Greg Cox

NACo Second Vice President Candidate Statement

Greg Cox

Supervisor, San Diego County, Calif.

Live Well America!

For the better part of four decades, I have had the honor of serving in local government. Since 1995, I have had the privilege of representing the residents of San Diego County — a county that exemplifies much of the rich diversity found throughout our nation.

Having served as president of two statewide associations, including the California State Association of Counties,  I was proud to serve on the NACo Board of Directors. I co-chaired NACo’s Governance and Structure Task Force to change the structure of the association to allow for more opportunities for members to get involved and have their voices heard. 

No level of government across our nation is closer to the people than county government. The vast array of services our counties provide 365 days a year enhance our quality of life and far too often serve as a vital safety net.

Recently, I had the pleasure of unveiling a one-stop county service center that provides local residents with access to medical insurance coverage, food and nutrition assistance, child support, aging and independence services, and veterans’ benefits.

Creating easy access to resources like this is just the beginning of what we can do. I am proud to play a leading role in the delivery of so many critical services to residents in rural, suburban and urban areas.  And I am ready and eager to take on a broader challenge: serving as an officer for the National Association of Counties.

Since I announced my candidacy for NACo 2nd vice president in January, I have often been asked what I want to accomplish as a NACo officer.  Considering the complexity of county services — and the diversity of the people we serve — that’s not an easy question.  America’s counties are unique and each has its own distinctive challenges.  But here are three areas that I want to focus on to ensure we have safe, healthy and vibrant communities.  I call this “Live Well America!”

Expanding Collaborative Services in Our Communities

One challenge facing NACo is to examine ways for counties to leverage and make the most of services already in place. We cannot solely focus on seeking new fiscal resources out of Washington, D.C. We must also look for new ways to provide people with access to existing resources.

As counties, we need to enhance our collaboration with community groups and the private sector. For example, I have been a strong advocate of the 2-1-1 system that plays an invaluable role in connecting residents with local services. It also serves as a critical component in communicating information to the public during emergencies such as earthquakes, floods and fires. 

I have personally witnessed this partnership come to life in recent years when San Diego County experienced a series of wildfires that resulted in mass evacuations and the destruction of nearly 5,000 homes. For many residents, 2-1-1 was their primary link for information and resources during all too frequent emergencies. 

We need to see 2-1-1 expanded across all counties.  This would be particularly helpful in rural communities that often face connectivity and other challenges that prevent access to services and resources. 

The health of our residents is another issue we can never overlook. Many counties have already implemented programs for children that focus on nutrition and healthy living. The “Live Well San Diego” initiative has become a national model for creating healthy, safe communities. Led by the county, this visionary, strategic initiative features a broad coalition of partners including cities, schools, businesses and non-profit community providers.

By developing preventive public health and safety measures such as this, we can ultimately reduce the cost of county services down the road. Exploring cost-effective solutions is critically important in the face of underfunded federal mandates.  More importantly, we will be helping to create a healthier population that benefits all of us.  Collaborative efforts such as 2-1-1 can result in healthier communities and help us reach the goal of “Live Well America!”

Enhancing Economic Development throughout the Country

The importance of counties in economic development cannot be overstated. Whether it’s the urban core, the suburbs or a rural area, we must strive to create dynamic, sustainable communities.  Needs may differ, but the goal is the same: Our residents want to live in communities where they can work, raise their families and thrive.

As a national association, we need to ensure that our country is investing in infrastructure and job creation, as well as visionary land-use planning and strong, regional cooperative efforts.  Community, economic and workforce development are already key components of NACo’s American County Platform. Yet our job is far from done. 

Too often it seems like we are fighting with the federal government to maintain funding for programs that enhance economic development — programs like Community Development Block Grants, Secure Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes.  Priorities such as affordable housing, infrastructure, environmental cleanup and job creation are often derailed by partisan politics.  As NACo states, “economic vitality is crucial to the health of every community.”  Only through the incorporation of strong, vibrant, comprehensive economic development in every county in this country, and only when we put policy over politics, will America be truly living well.

Elevating the Needs of Our Veterans

There are nearly 22 million veterans in the United States — making up about 7 percent of our nation’s population. Yet all too often they are an invisible population, despite the fact that they are the reason we enjoy the freedoms that we do.

Veterans’ services have been close to my heart for decades.  My own County of San Diego has the third largest concentration of veterans in the country.  I see these veterans every day — but too many times I see them in our mental health clinics or living on our streets.

Counties are often the bridge between federal programs and our veterans.  But we can do more than just be a bridge. 

Take a look at some startling statistics:

• Nearly 9 percent of our nation’s homeless population are veterans.
• Of the number of veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, 20 percent are suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. 
• It’s been reported that 30 percent of soldiers develop mental health problems within three to four  months of returning home.

As counties and as a nation, we must do all we can to reduce these numbers.  As a national association, we must elevate the discussion and promote action to increase resources for those who have defended our country.  And as county leaders, we must do all we can to ensure our veterans efficiently receive the services they deserve.

Through my vast experience in local office, I understand our focus is often on local control.  I deeply believe that it is critical for local government voices to be heard on the national level.  Our strength in NACo is speaking with one voice.   Counties work every day with governments, community groups and the private sector to make a difference in our communities, and I want to see that counties also make a very real difference in setting the national agenda.

I would be honored to have your support to represent our nation’s counties.  I have the experience, the passion, the energy and the collaborative approach needed to get things done.  Working together through NACo, we can speak with one voice to inspire all of us to, “Live Well America!”