County Commission | The Magazine October 2018 | Page 30

FROM THE COVER
A Foundation of Leadership
T
he future of county government
is undoubtably brighter thanks
to the leadership of four past
presidents who will conclude their
years of county commission service
next month.
Tony Cherry, the current
president, had only been in office a
few hours when he took time in his
inaugural address to express gratitude
to these individuals who have meant
so much to the “One Voice” of
county government.
“Tonight, before we look ahead,
it is essential that we look at those
who have laid the foundation upon
which our future successes will be
constructed,” Cherry said.
As a token of appreciation,
the outgoing past presidents were
presented with an official map of
Alabama from 1929, the year of
ACCA’s organization.
“We hope each of you will find
a place to hang this map so that
you will remember all of us, how
grateful we are for your leadership
and — most importantly — the
friendships we have all built as we
have created One strong voice for
our 67 counties,” Cherry said before
recounting a few of the honorees’
outstanding contributions.
Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge
and Chairman Hardy McCollum
is the longest-serving county
commissioner in office today. His
term as president began in 1995, a
time marked by division within the
Association, and he is credited with
strengthening unity. As president,
he exhorted the 67 counties to work
together as a family. There would be
disagreements from time to time, but,
in the end, families always
come home.
30 | OCTOBER 2018
These four past presidents of the Association are completing their county commission service this year:
(from left) Bill Stricklend (Marshall), Hardy McCollum (Tuscaloosa), Tim Choate (Etowah) and Debbie
Wood (Chambers).
Under ACCA bylaws, past
presidents continue to serve on the
Board of Directors as long as they
hold county commission office, so
McCollum has amassed more than
20 years of active leadership in
the Association.
Etowah County Commissioner
Tim Choate became president
in 2011, in the thick of efforts to
provide for the future of 9-1-1
programs across Alabama. During
his presidency, legislators enacted
a statewide solution for 9-1-1
funding that improves quality of
life for everyone in Alabama. It was
also under his leadership that the
organization adopted the phrase “67
Counties, One Voice,” which has
become a rallying cry for county
unity.
Chambers County Commissioner
Debbie Wood became president in
2013, a challenging time in the life of
the Association, and she revitalized
the organization with a vision that
commissioners, sheriffs, tax officials
and probate judges should work
together. This November, she is in
the running for a seat in the Alabama
House of Representatives, where she
would become an invaluable member
of the unofficial County Caucus.
As president in 2016-2017,
Marshall County Commissioner
Bill Stricklend challenged fellow
commissioners to secure additional
funding for county roads and bridges,
and then he led the charge without
regard for personal sacrifice or
political risk.
Stricklend “helped us forge
a legislative proposal that should
have been passed two years ago,”
Cherry said. “Bill, I want you to
hear me promise you that as our
new president, I will do everything
humanly possible to finish the
mission that has been set before me.
And when we are successful, we
will have you back here to celebrate
with us.” n