AAC Story
SEEMS TO ME ... Continued From Page 21 <<<
ties are funding to the detriment of county infrastructure and pay for employees. I’ll save this discussion for another article. If I were running for Governor or for a General Assembly seat — and I’m not — this would be part of my campaign platform: “I’ll work to reverse cuts to the County Aid Fund and will work to increase the appro- priation to that fund to cover the costs of our counties in pro- viding and administering state services. Tey should be able to use their county revenues for county services and for paying their employees a decent wage. I will work with counties across this state to combat the chal- lenges they face. Counties are our partner, our helper in deliv- ering state services. Tey deserve proper respect of the state. We serve the exact same constituency. County government leaders, I’m on your side.” So, after finishing my imaginary campaign speech — in all honesty, we need to find a way of having a real conversation on how you fund county government that works under so many state mandates requiring monetary expenditures. Underfund- ing has been a part of our long history. Be proud you are a county elected official — a leader. When you are in county government, you are on the ground, and
county government, you are on the ground, and you are looking into the eyes and heart of the people you are there to serve.
B
e proud you are a county elected official — a leader. When you are in
you are looking into the eyes and hearts of the people you are there to serve. It teaches you to listen; it teaches you to be expansive in the people with whom you talk to, and that engagement gives you political judgment. Jack Gardner said, “Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse quali- ties. Tere are quiet leaders and leaders you can hear in the next county. Some find strength in eloquence, some in judgment, and some in courage.” I say just lead in your style — but lead.
I end our Great Story of County Government with a little trivia. The newest coun- ty in the United States is the city and county of Broom-
field, Colorado, established in 2001 as a consolidated city-county. The newest county-equivalent is the Alaskan borough of Petersburg established in 2013. The newest Ar- kansas county is not very new — Cleburne County estab- lished in February 1883, formed out of parts of White, Van Buren and Independence counties and named after Gen. Patrick Cleburne, a Confederate general of the Civil War. Back in the day, I was always glad to say, “I’m a treasurer and comptroller for the county.” You fill in the blank for yourself. County government is great and it’s a great story to tell.
Left: Gov. Asa Hutchinson signs into law House Bill 1515, which clarifies the law regarding compensation of elected county and township officers. Co-sponsored by state Sen. Lance Eads and Rep. Justin Boyd, the bill, now Act 400 of 2019, allows counties to offer members of the quorum court other insurance benefits, such as dental insurance, in addition to the medical insurance coverage they may already pro- vide. Pictured with the Governor, from left to right, are Tyler Reedy, son of Sebastian County Justice of the Peace Rick Reedy; Rep. Boyd, Pulaski County Justice of the Peace Paul Elliott; and Sebastian County Justice of the Peace Danny Aldridge.
— Photo by Holland Doran 22 COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2019
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