By Ed Somers and Larry Jones
July 26, 2004

"We should concentrate on the large number of issues we agree on rather than the small number we do not," was the message that Conference President Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic carried to the National Association of Counties (NACo) meeting in Phoenix on July 20.

Speaking about past cooperative efforts, Plusquellic said, "Without a doubt, our most successful recent effort together was the fight against unfunded federal mandates, an effort that continues yet today as Washington finds new and innovative ways to pass costs on to cities and counties, and limit our ability to finance our critical operations."

"I also appreciate our work together on key issues such as internet sales taxation, transportation investment, MTBE liability, and CDBG funding," the mayor added.

Speaking about the work of the special Department of Homeland Security Task Force on first responder funding, he said, "This was a very positive and productive effort where federal, state, county and city officials did not point fingers, but found solutions to getting critical homeland security funding to our nation's first responders." Task force recommendations include:

• Exemption from reimbursement provisions;
• Flexibility for overtime;
• Funding for incremental operational costs such as the protection of critical infrastructure and major events; and
• Deadlines for sending funding from one level of local government to another.

Plusquellic thanked the NACo representatives on the task force for their work, but added, "These changes are not going to happen just because we issued a report. They are going to happen if Congress changes the requirements."

In conclusion, the mayor said "We must work together to make sure that both parties and both candidates for President understand the importance of investing in cities and counties."

Following Plusquellic's speech, county delegates from across the nation elected new NACo officers for 2004-2005. Lake County (IL) Commissioner Angelo Kyle was elected as the new President. He has served on the Lake County Board for the last ten years, and has served as chair or vice chair of several key committees, including the finance and administrative committee, the community and economic development committee and the law and judicial committee. He is also the former CEO and past president of the Lake County Urban League. After his election to the Lake County Board, Kyle became active within NACo, serving on its Board of Directors and on a number of committees and task forces. In July of 2001, he was elected NACo second vice president, which put him in line to become president this year. Kyle has chosen affordable housing and access to health care as his presidential initiatives.

Other officers elected at the NACo conference were Umatilla County (OR) Board Chair Bill Hansell as President-Elect, Blue Earth County (MN) Commissioner Colleen Landkamer as First Vice President, Oakland County (MI) Commissioner Eric Coleman as Second Vice President, and Boone County (MO) Commissioner Karen M. Miller as Immediate Past President.

Washington (DC) Mayor Anthony Williams also spoke to county delegates at the July 18 opening general session, discussing the improvements his city has made under his leadership, and the problems the city continues to face by not have voting representation in Congress. As First Vice President of the National League of Cities, Williams told county delegates that NLC would continue to work with NACo and other groups to improve local services and the quality of life for local residents.