Salute to county leaders: Mary Ann Borgeson

Mary Ann Borgeson has spent nearly 32 years as a member of the Douglas County, Neb. Board of Commissioners and will leave office at the end of the year. After serving as chair of the Health Policy Steering Committee, she was elected and served as the NACo president from 2019-2020, leading the organization through the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and serving as a confidant to many county officials who were facing extraordinary pressures as public health, human services, public safety and other stresses mounted across the country.

When did you know county government was your calling?

Not until I got there. When I was working to get mental health on the county agenda, and once I realized county government was a place we could make a difference in the lives of people who had nowhere else to turn, I knew I found a place where I could put my energy and efforts.

What’s your proudest achievement in Douglas County?

Being the first woman on the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and serving as the president of NACo.

What did you learn from NACo that you brought home to Douglas County?

That counties matter.

How did you change as a county leader over your tenure?

I’m more compassionate, more intentional. I helped 166 individuals who came to Douglas County from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. A lot of them left their homes, some with just a trash bag of their possessions and came to a place they had never been before.

Why are you optimistic about the future of county government?

“It’s the government that’s closest to the people, that understands what the needs are within each one of our communities. You have people who live in their communities and work in their communities among the people they represent. I think that they keep that in the forefront of their service. It will always be the best form of government there is for the people.

What advice do you have for your successors?

Don’t let partisan politics play into any of your decision-making. Listen to the people. And lead with your heart.