NACo leaders urge new attendees to connect, engage at Legislative Conference

Key Takeaways

NACo President J.D. Clark of Wise County, Texas, recalled Saturday morning that his first connection with NACo came at a Legislative Conference in 2015.

“As we gather here this morning sharing a meal as first-time attendees, I’m reminded of the exceptional opportunity to meet with colleagues, build lasting relationships and hear stories that lead to meaningful change,” he told the nearly 300 county officials gathered for the First-Time Attendees Breakfast.

Clark and other leaders encouraged newcomers to take full advantage of the 2026 Legislative Conference.

“As I look across the room, it’s amazing to see so many new faces,” said Comal County, Texas Treasurer Renee Couch, chair of NACo’s Membership Standing Committee. “More than 350 first-time attendees and more than 1,800 county leaders are participating in this Legislative Conference here in Washington, D.C.”

Couch urged attendees to sit in on steering committee meetings, visit Monday’s Federal Agency Expo and attend regional caucus meetings to connect with peers from neighboring states.

Clark reflected on his own first conference experience more than 10 years ago.

“My own NACo story began more than a decade ago,” he said. “I was elected county judge in November 2014, and in early 2015 my first NACo event was the Legislative Conference. When I came home, I knew immediately that we had to get more involved. I quickly realized my county was missing out on resources, tools, information and opportunities because we were not engaged in NACo.”

Since then, Clark has chaired the Rural Action Caucus and helped “move the needle” on broadband access and NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force.

NACo CEO and Executive Director Matt Chase also welcomed attendees and outlined the association’s four pillars that guide its work as the national voice for counties.

“Relationships make you present — you have to be here,” Chase said. “You have to be persistent and you have to be present.”

The second pillar, he explained, is data. “Data makes you credible; it gets you through the door. If you visit our resource center, you’ll see we have all sorts of data.”

The third pillar is storytelling. “Stories make us memorable,” Chase said. “When we talk to Congress about disasters, we have national statistics showing that one-third of our counties each year experience a disaster requiring federal assistance. But when we talk about Avery County, N.C., receiving 40 inches of rain with a $42 million annual budget and facing $52 million in debris removal costs — then waiting two, three, four or five years for reimbursement — it’s just not rational.”

The fourth pillar centers on norms — sustaining trust and credibility over time. “We’re here to offer solutions,” Chase said. “It’s what we call, ‘So what? Now what?’ OK, you’ve brought us a problem — what are we going to do about it?”

He emphasized that NACo’s 10 policy committees develop the association’s policy positions. “The staff doesn’t set policy,” he said. “You set the policies. You own the association.”

David Belnick of Nationwide was up next and led the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” to Second Vice President Alisha Bell before highlighting Nationwide’s 26-year partnership with NACo.

“Our goal at Nationwide, in partnership with NACo, is to deliver the best experiences and outcomes for participants so they can have a successful retirement,” Belnick said. He noted that Nationwide offers an online tool that helps county employees determine whether they are on track for retirement and provides guidance on improving their savings strategy.

The Nationwide Retirement Institute also offers free seminars on health care planning, Social Security and tax-efficient retirement savings. “It’s a great resource,” he said. “Make sure your counties are taking advantage of it.”

Nationwide is investing $5 million through 2028 to upgrade and improve its technology platforms, he added, with a focus on helping county employees strengthen their retirement readiness.

To close out the breakfast, attendees met with NACo ambassadors at each table to discuss conference opportunities one-on-one and connect on issues affecting their counties back home.