new-elect training


‘Like drinking from a firehose!’ County Judges-elect get a crash course before swearing-in day


ByRandy M. Kemp County Lines Editor


ou pay your filing fee, show up at all the pie suppers, wear out your shoes knock- ing on doors – and congratulations, you get elected. You’re excited, but some- where before Jan. 1 the question hits you: “What have I gotten myself into?”


Y If you are new to public service or an elected office, what you don’t


know about your job would likely fill a small library. But don’t worry! You have a great support system to help you get started, then to help you all along the road. For starters, the Association of Arkansas Counties holds a New-Elect


Seminar after each election. Every newly-elected county and district of- ficial (JPs are considered district officials) gets an invitation. Likewise, the County Judges Association of Arkansas organizes a full day of intensive training and information-sharing for the “freshman class”. On Dec. 9 they gave the incoming Judges both barrels.


Faulkner County Judge Preston Scroggin hit the nail on the head when he told them,“You’re going to feel like you’re drinking from a firehose the next couple of days!” He was referring to the huge amount of information imparted. Being among the 75 county judges in Arkansas “is a brotherhood –


a sisterhood, too. It’s a great job that’s very satisfying,” Scroggin added. “Welcome aboard, enjoy the ride!” Scroggin was part of a panel of veteran County Judges who welcomed the 21 Judges-elect who attended their Tursday session. Tey got an armload of training materials and manuals, and they quickly learned to


appreciate the “drinking from a firehose” analogy. Other words of wisdom imparted that morning:


“When you think you know it all, look out!” cautioned Jesse Dol-


lar, 2010 Greene County Judge. “Tings can change in a big hurry.” Draw upon other county judges, and upon fellow elected officials in your county, as resources, he added. “All you have to do is call; be willing to ask questions, and expect the unexpected. You have a lot of experienced people out there in the county; use them to help you make your job smoother. You can’t do it all by yourself,” said Dollar.


White County Judge Michael


Lincoln talked about three L’s: Lis- ten, Learn, and Live. “People will come to you with lots of things. Listen carefully, to see what they are really asking or say- ing,” he counseled. “Learn all you can. Social media


is very prevalent: Facebook, Twit- ter, and email are the main mode of communication for some.


You


White County Judge Michael Lincoln, flanked by Greene County’s Jesse Dollar, cautioned: You will have lots of demands on your time; don’t let the job con- sume you.”


don’t have to learn Twitter, but learn how to email” if you are not already proficient at it, the White County judge added. Te third L stands for Live. “You


will have endless demands on your time. Spend time with your wife and family; don’t let the job con-


sume you. People will consume you if you let them,” he cautioned. Judge Lincoln further urged the incoming judges to build relation- ships, not only with fellow County Judges but others. “Getting along with others is paramount, and you need to be the one to initiate it.”


“Tis is the most fun job I ever had in my life – even though it probably pays the least,” said Johnson County Judge Mike Jacobs with a smile. But he had some serious advice. “Get ready to deal with conflicts. By Jan. 3 you are going to be on several boards, and some of them you’ve probably never heard of. You’ll have to learn to prioritize. “You’ll be sworn in on Jan. 1, but on Jan. 2 you’ll be expected to know all the answers,” said Judge Jacobs, AAC board president. He added wise- ly, “‘I don’t know’ is an acceptable answer.” He concluded: “You can apply business principles to the job, but you can’t run this like a business.”


Twenty-one of the 23 new County Judges-elect attended the training, picking up armloads of printed material as part of the day’s training resources.


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Madison County’s Wes Fowler agreed, “this is a brotherhood! Tey will help you,” he said of fellow County Judges and the AAC. He offered his personal help as well. “Tere are no stupid questions, so don’t be afraid


COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2011


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