County Commission | The Magazine October 2017 | Page 11

FROM THE COVER
Newly-enlarged Legislative Committee
established for 2017-18
T
he voice of county government in Alabama is
growing stronger and more unified thanks to a
recent revision of Association by-laws.
During the ACCA Annual Convention in August,
member counties voted
overwhelmingly in favor of
enlarging the organization’s
Legislative Committee.
“This committee shall have responsibility of representing the Association in all legislative
The result is a 67-member
matters and shall support legislation endorsed by the Association or Board of Directors.
committee, epitomizing “67
The committee shall receive and review all legislative proposals and policies and refer, with
Counties, One Voice,” with
comment, these proposals and policies to the Board of Directors.” – ACCA By-Laws
each and every county in the
state represented. The change
went into effect immediately,
with the group’s inaugural
face-to-face meeting taking
place in Montgomery the first
week of October.
“This is a very important
endeavor,” said Marshall
County Commissioner
Bill Stricklend. “The
rearrangement of this
Legislative Committee came
after many years of talking
this over.”
By virtue of his position
as immediate past president,
Stricklend chairs the
Legislative Committee, whose
members serve one-year terms.
When your meeting is focused on “getting in the game,” then Riverwalk Stadium – home of
The ACCA Board of
minor league baseball’s Montgomery Biscuits – is the perfect place for dinner.
Directors put forward the
proposed by-laws change
The change comes at a critical time in the legislative
in July, allowing for proper notice in advance of the
cycle. All 140 seats in the Alabama Legislature are up
Business Session on Aug. 24.
for election in 2018. Candidates could begin raising
In the past, the committee was composed of
money in June, and legislative turnover is expected to
12 commissioners elected from districts plus past
be significant based on the number of incumbents who
Association presidents.
“The more we’ve got working on this the stronger we have announced that they are not seeking re-election.
Since 2018 is an election year, the Legislature’s
are,” said ACCA President Steve McKinnon, who serves
annual Regular Session gets an early start. Lawmakers
on the Dale County Commission. “Every county made
will reconvene at the Statehouse on January 9.
a commitment.”
2017-18 ACCA Legislative Committee
COUNTY COMMISSION | 11