National Association of Counties * Washington, DC / Vol. 30, No. 14 * July 20, 1998

---

During the 1998 conference in Portland, Oregon, counties across this country will vote to elect a 2nd vice-president who will lead us from the millennium which saw the birth of our nation, into a future which has all the potential to be even greater than our magnificent past. We must work collectively to make our organization, the National Association of Counties, ready for that future. My vision is simple. I want an organization that gives all of our 3,069 counties the opportunity to effectively and professionally serve all citizens so that they may live out their dreams and achieve their God-given potential.

All across America, communities are determined to renew America's most basic right: Opportunity for every American and the determination to reawaken, re-establish, the great sense of American community. As leaders in our communities we must have the tools to effectively provide the environment needed to create freedom and responsibility for every American. Our mission must be clear: Arm our counties with the necessary tools and work together with them to expand our influence with the Administration and Congress, building a lasting relationship beneficial to all our constituencies.

Today, communities across America are moving forward with strong local leadership. Our economies are stronger, government is smaller, education is improving, our environment is cleaner, families are healthier and our streets are safer. Today more opportunity prevails in America, more responsibility exists in our homes and our communities have a greater sense of direction and purpose. We are living in an age of prosperity and enormous possibility. As leaders in our communities we must work to make sure that all Americans can make the most of the opportunities presented to them.

Now we must move forward! We know the course we must follow. We must continue to build on the work started by our NACo Board of Directors and executive leadership. We need to work collectively to create a stronger, more effective, more efficient organization that continues to reflect our values, meet our needs and champion our objectives. Our counties seek solutions and want an organization that works for them, not against them. Simply stated, counties want goals that are reasonable, help that is realistic and solutions that can be delivered. I propose to bring to the executive leadership a moderate, achievable, common-sense agenda that will improve counties' abilities to provide effective and efficient services.

Our National Association of Counties needs bold, energetic leadership that will guide us into the future. We must meet our communities' challenges, protect our values and fulfill our American dreams. Therefore, I present the following platform. A platform committed to promoting and enhancing our counties as we approach the new millennium.

Legislative Affairs

NACo, the only national organization that represents county governments in Washington, D.C., must continue to work effectively and diligently with the Congress and federal agencies. Our efforts will be focused on providing counties information and access to legislative issues that are important to their communities. Our professional lobbyists will continue to advocate and work to influence legislation that is positive for counties and battle those issues which are detrimental to our communities.

Steering Committees

Steering committees will continue to play the important and vital role of reviewing and developing legislation that will lead our counties into the new millennium. NACo must encourage and foster an environment where officials from across America will be empowered to formulate and debate legislation critical to the future of our counties. America's counties can rely on our steering committees to address crime, economic development, agricultural and rural issues, workforce development and education.

Large Urban Caucus

Our large urban caucus has provided the means and strength to further promote the agenda of America's counties. NACo must assure that this vital and important caucus has both the financial and human resources to continue its critical role in furthering our agenda. Our goal must be to utilize its effective lobbying powers to increase NACo's presence with Capitol Hill as well as the Administration.

Rural Caucus

Over 25 percent of the nation's population live in 2,400 rural counties. Many of our economies have witnessed trends that have led to serious loss of human and financial resources, much of this due to governmental policies. We must commit our energies to the newly formed rural caucus in an effort to address serious deterioration of infrastructure facilities and institutions, such as roads, health care and education. Our goal must be to lower poverty rates which remain consistently higher in rural counties.

Commitment to America's Counties and Future

I pledge to America's counties that I will be a leader who will commit my time and energy to understanding issues important to our communities. I will be a leader who will set forth a vision that will lead us into the new millennium with the resources needed to meet the needs of our counties. It is my commitment to America's counties to visit every state in the country at least one time during my term on the NACo leadership committee. This commitment will enable me to better understand counties' issues so that I may be an effective leader in the new millennium.