Cruickshank sworn in as WIR president

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Valley County, Idaho Commission Chairman Gordon Cruickshank was sworn in on May 22 as president of the Western Interstate Region (WIR), a regional affiliate of the National Association of Counties (NACo). During his swearing-in at NACo’s WIR conference in Kauai County, Hawaii, Cruickshank spoke of his commitment to be a strong voice for county policy priorities at the federal level.

“NACo’s Western Interstate Region plays a key role in shaping federal policies that directly affect Valley County and other counties across the country,” said Cruickshank. “I’m proud to represent western counties and advocate for policies that help to improve the quality of life for our residents.”

With critical legislative and regulatory issues being debated in the nation’s capital, county leaders at the conference discussed issues particularly important to western communities. These issues included:

• Federal funding through the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) programs,
• Forest health, active forest management and wildfire suppression,
• Proposed redefinition of “Waters of the U.S.,”
• Reauthorization of federal transportation programs, and
• Endangered Species Act reform.

Earlier this month, Cruickshank testified on behalf of NACo before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. He provided his expertise on species conservation and impacts of the Endangered Species Act on counties nationwide.

WIR’s membership consists of counties in 15 western states: Alaska, Hawaii, Wash., Ore., Calif., Idaho, Nev., Ariz., Mont., Wyo., Colo., N.M., Utah, N.D. and S.D. For more information about WIR, visit: www.naco.org/WIR.