County Commission | The Magazine August 2017 | Page 15

FROM THE COVER
Straight Talk from Real Experts
in County Government
I
f the Annual Convention is a training camp, designed to equip county leaders to “Get in the
Game,” there is only one place to look for experts to help you hit it out of the park. That’s
right, you’ve got to look in county courthouses.
“Voices from the County Courthouse” is a unique session that will focus on the leadership
qualities and commitment necessary to be a successful commissioner in Alabama.
It’s arguably the toughest league in the country for commissioners. Alabama counties operate
within a one-of-a-kind legal framework, and the Association is bringing together a diverse group
of panelists representing both major political parties. Some have served for decades; another is
wrapping up his second term of office. There will be perspective from one of the fastest-growing
counties in the state, bisected by Interstate 65, as well as a county with dwindling population
and no interstate.
What all the panelists have in common is the experience of working day in and day out for
their counties. They have taken calls and texts at all hours of the day and night, wrestled with
the most challenging issues and weathered the bumps and bruises along the way. That’s why
their observations and lessons learned will be so valuable to their colleagues.
ACCA is proud to welcome a special guest moderator for this roundtable discussion.
National Public Radio's award-winning political reporter Debbie Elliott will employ her expert
interviewing skills to provide attendees with unique insight from some of the most effective
county leaders in the state
Don't miss this session if you want to “Get in the Game.” n
Debbie Elliott
CORRESPONDENT, NATIONAL DESK, NPR
@NPRDebElliott
After a stint on Capitol Hill, NPR National Correspondent Debbie Elliott is back covering her
native South. From a giant sinkhole swallowing up a bayou community in Louisiana to new state
restrictions on abortion providers, Elliott keeps track of the region's news. She also reports on
cultural treasures such as a historic church in need of preservation in Helena, Arkansas; the
magical House of Dance and Feathers in New Orleans' lower 9th ward; and the hidden-away Coon
Dog Cemetery in north Alabama.
She's looking back at the legacy of landmark civil rights events, and following the legal battles
between states and the federal government over immigration enforcement, healthcare, and voting rights.
Her coverage of the BP oil spill has focused on the human impact of the spill, the complex litigation to determine
responsibility for the disaster, and how the region is recovering. She launched the series, "The Disappearing Coast,"
to examine the history and culture of south Louisiana, the state's complicated relationship with the oil and gas industry,
and the oil spill's lasting impact on a fragile coastline.
During her tenure in Washington, D.C., Elliott covered Congress and hosted NPR's All Things Considered on
the weekends. In that role, she interviewed a variety of luminaries and world leaders, including Archbishop Desmond
Tutu and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Since joining NPR in 1995, Elliott has covered the legal battle over
displaying the Ten Commandments in courthouses, the Elian Gonzales custody dispute from Miami, and a number
of major hurricanes, from Andrew to Katrina. NPR has sent her to cover a Super Bowl, the Summer Olympics, Bama
football fans, and baseball spring training.
Elliott was born in Atlanta, grew up in the Memphis area, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. She's the
former news director of member station WUAL (now Alabama Public Radio).
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