President’s Perspective


2011: Working together has never been more important


With recent elections in Arkansas and around the nation, the landscape has changed enormously in the political realm. Te Ar- kansas Legislature starts 2011 with 46 new members in the 100-seat House, and 13 new faces in the 35-seat Senate. It behooves each of us elected officials to get to know them quickly and build a good working relationship with them. Tat’s a truism, of course, especially since our state’s adoption of term limits for legislators – but it has never been more important than right now. We not only saw an upheaval at the state and federal levels, but the


H


Collectors Treasurers


Assessors Coroners JPs


trend carried over to local politics in a big way. As always, some turn- over was due to retirement, but some very experienced and effective county incumbents also lost at the polls. Tat means that those county officials who have already been serving need to step up even more in 2011, both in reaching out to your legislators, and in reaching out a helping hand to the new county officials coming in. Here is the breakdown on the newly-elected 267 county and district officials that took office Jan. 1: Judges Clerks


23


Circuit Clerks 13 Sheriffs


12 (three of which are combined county and circuit) 20 (seven of which are combined sheriff/collector)


12 (seven of which are combined sheriff/collector and two are combined collector/treasurer)


14 (two of which are combined collector/treasurer) 15 14


156 Grand total 267


We will be taking a small legislative package (15 bills) to the General Assembly. With funding extremely tight, we will be playing more de- fense than offense this time around. We will all have to work together like never before just to hold what we have and not go backwards. And with the critical nature of the services we provide at the county level, we just cannot afford to lose funding. It has been said many times but certainly bears repeating. As critical


as relationship-building is, that means more than just calling your Rep- resentative or Senator on the morning before a scheduled vote on a bill of interest, to plead your case for a “yes” or “no” vote. Tere is a social aspect, plus those key folks need to hear from us throughout the year. In keeping with that, well ahead of the session’s start, the AAC Board invited all the newly-elected Constitutional officers and legislators to a reception at the Governor’s Mansion for a “meet and greet” session in


COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2011


appy New Year to all! It is my hope that each of you ac- complished all you intended in 2010: Personally, and as a public servant. I am sure that each one of us has great expectations for the coming year for our counties.


November. Attendance was very good and everyone thought we had put our best foot forward. It was well-received – not only by the many county and district officials from all around Arkansas but by the new and returning state legislators, Constitutional officers, and various department heads. Gov. Beebe was on hand to greet each guest at the door before offering a warm welcome and words of greet- ing in the main gathering hall. He spent the rest of the evening visiting with county officials – not to mention graciously posing for lots of photos with those who requested. Tere will be more of these opportunities in the days just ahead.


MIKE JACOBS AAC Board President


Don’t forget our individual association receptions during the session. Tese are great opportunities for one-on-one conversation and for building relationships with our legislative bodies. County Assessors: AAC Luncheon: County Collectors: County Judges: Circuit Clerks County Clerks:


Jan. 18, 4:30-6:30 p.m. @ AAC Feb. 8, 11:30-1 @ AAC Feb. 10, 5-7 p.m. @ AAC Feb. 14, 11:30-1 @ AAC Feb. 22, 11:30-1 @ AAC March 3, 11:30-1 @ AAC


AAC Legis. Reception: March 7, 5-7 p.m. @ AAC


Remember, as trite as it might sound, we as county government officials truly are a family! Tis brings us to one more word of re- minder, as the session gets underway: Any difference of opinion must be worked out in-house before we go to the Capitol. Te AAC staff, Legislative Committee, and Board of Directors work hard all year long – and in the context of decades of institutional knowledge – to arrive at consensus on the bills we are fighting for during a session. We have to work in harmony, because the perception of disagreement among our “family” seriously erodes the high standing that AAC and your individual associations enjoy at the state level. Looking back on 2010, I’m reminded of a Lou Holtz quote: “We


aren’t where we want to be, we aren’t where we ought to be, but thank goodness we aren’t where we used to be.” Set high goals for your county and you will accomplish great things. Have a Happy New Year, and say a prayer each day for our troops who risk their lives every day for our freedom. My wish for you is nothing less than the very best in 2011, and I hope that all your efforts will be fruitful...


The Honorable Mike Jacobs, Johnson County Judge / AAC Board President 9


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