County Commission | The Magazine October 2018 | Page 5

anchored our Board of Directors.
He has guided us through 25
years of growth and successes.
And he will be missed as he steps
into retirement in January.
For almost two years, our
organization led the statewide
charge to provide for the future
of 9-1-1 programs in our state.
We were opposed from almost
every angle — but as we always do
— we eventually prevailed. In 2012,
under the leadership of my friend
Tim Choate, we enacted a statewide
solution for 9-1-1 funding that has
directly impacted the lives of all our
citizens. And since then, Tim’s calm,
thoughtful and insightful manner
has been a steadying hand as this
Association has embarked on even
more challenging issues. You have
been faithful, and we will miss you
— more than you can imagine.
If you were in this room the
following year — when Debbie
of Representatives, where she will
Everyone must contribute, show them all what it means to
be a public servant.
and no one should
It is not often that it comes
time to say “goodbye” to a past
expect their neighbor to
president who was just up here
on this podium earlier in the
carry their load.
convention. But our friend Bill
Stricklend has decided to move
Wood became president — and
on to a new arena of public
if you watched her revitalize this
service. And our challenge now is to
Association with a vision that
finish the work he started.
commissioners, sheriffs, tax officials
He assumed the role of president
and probate judges ought to work
two years ago tonight. At that
together, then you know that every
moment, he asked us all to take a
one of us has a responsibility to
pledge with him that 2017 would
carry her legacy forward. And I will
be the year that we finally convinced
proudly do so beginning tonight.
the Legislature to do something
Like Judge McCollum, Debbie
about our roads and bridges.
also assumed the role of president at Very few of you have any idea the
a challenging time. She urged us all
personal sacrifice and political risks
to be fighters just like her. And she
that must be taken when you lead
will forever be known to all of us
the organization that is out front
as The Champ. She’s decided to go
pushing a gas tax in Alabama. But
“fight” for us in the Alabama House Bill does.
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