Commissioners join leaders across US to forge local govt policies

Published on August 04, 2023

Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) headed a contingent of county commissioners attending the 2023 National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference July 21-24 in Austin, Texas.

Commissioners Jonathan C. Kinloch (D-Detroit), Monique Baker McCormick (DDetroit) and Melissa Daub (D-Canton) joined Chair Bell to meet with officials from across the nation to work on key policy issues.

"We received a warm welcome from officials in Austin and were able to listen and share ideas with elected officials from across the country," Chair Bell said. "The reason we appreciate and enjoy participating in NACo events is that it allows us the opportunity to remain informed on current public policy and provide input on federal policies as well."

The conference featured addresses from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, broadcast journalist Joan Lunden and Allan Golston, president of U.S. programs for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Members took part in policy committee hearings and voted to hone the American County Platform, which directs NACo's work on Capitol Hill and executive agencies. Wayne County commissioners received appointments to various NACo committees, with Chair Bell serving as vice chair for the Public Safety Committee and appointed to the Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC), Commissioner Kinloch as vice chair for the LUCC and vice chair of the Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee, Commissioner McCormick as vice president of the Women of NACo and member of the LUCC and Commissioner Daub a member of the LUCC and the Committee on Environment, Energy and Land Use.

Commissioner Terry Marecki (R-Livonia), who did not attend this year, was appointed to the Transportation Committee and LUCC.

Wayne County is among 50 Michigan counties that are voting members of the national organization.

Commissioners join leaders across US to forge local govt policies(PDF, 132KB)