Jan 29, 2026 | AOC News
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) is excited to announce the launch of its 120th Anniversary Campaign, “Over a Century of Commitment.” This significant milestone aims to celebrate the invaluable role of Oregon counties and showcase the impactful work AOC has accomplished over the past 120 years.
“This anniversary is a chance to honor our past while highlighting the essential contributions Oregon’s counties make to the state,” said Executive Director Gina Nikkel.
The year-long celebration will feature several key highlights:
Fresh Look: Our new logo was unveiled in January. It was redesigned to recognize our 1906 founding and signify our role as a statewide association advocating for all counties.
AOC Store: You can now order AOC swag and show your county spirit! The AOC store is live and features raincoats, fleece jackets, lapel pins, and more. Stay tuned for more items to be available for purchase throughout the year.
Historical Publication: A comprehensive print and digital publication is being created to document AOC’s significant milestones, achievements, and key historical moments.
County Spotlight Series: Throughout the year, we are featuring historical tidbits and unique qualities of all of Oregon’s counties on social media channels and in the Oregon Trails Newsletter. Help us spread the word by liking and sharing our posts!
Annual Conference: The 2026 Annual Conference will be the centerpiece of the celebration, featuring special decor, catering, and educational sessions. Attendees can look forward to special guests, an enhanced reception, and a dedicated merchandise table.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Jan 28, 2026 | AOC News
As many county commissioners, chairs, and judges are acutely aware, counties have experienced a decades-long trend of increasing budget challenges and more frequent budget shortfalls at the county level. Today, 60% of Oregon counties have a deficit in their general fund and face difficulties providing all mandated services to their communities.
As a solutions-oriented organization representing Oregon counties, the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) is ready to serve as a catalyst for confronting county revenue challenges. Recognizing the urgency of this challenge, AOC President and Tillamook County Commissioner Erin Skaar will focus her 2026 Presidential Initiative on ways that counties can generate revenue outside of advocacy with state and federal government and under their own authority.
“An alarming number of counties are facing significant, structural challenges in delivering the services our communities count on to be safe and to thrive,” Skaar said. “My presidential initiative this year will highlight this growing revenue crisis and build a foundation on which the AOC membership can unite, learn from each other, and lead toward solutions.”
Throughout the year, AOC will create opportunities for information sharing on topics related to revenue generation and optimization, cost cutting, and other best practices. Through a series of webinars, AOC members will have the opportunity to learn from their peers and from thought leaders at the national level.
Oregon county commissioners, chairs, judges, and other county leaders who have tested new approaches to generating revenue and managing expenses will be invited to share their experiences in these webinars.
Stay tuned for webinar details and how members can be involved in developing budget solutions within their counties.
Contributed by: Jill Rees | Member Services Director
Jan 28, 2026 | AOC Advocacy, AOC News
The Oregon State Legislature’s 35-day short session begins on Feb. 2 and must end no later than March 8. Legislators’ primary objectives during the 5-week sprint will be mitigating historic budget gaps in both the state general fund and at the Oregon Department of Transportation. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Legislative Affairs team is working closely with legislators and our colleagues in Salem to protect county budgets and services during this process. AOC expects to make incremental progress on our 2025-26 legislative priorities, setting the stage for a productive interim.
AOC steering committees and the Legislative Committee will meet on Feb. 6 and 9 to review and take positions on bills impacting county services, budgets, and governance. AOC staff, alongside our steering committee co-chairs and the AOC Executive Committee, strive to ensure the association’s resources and political capital are leveraged strategically and effectively. Our processes and advocacy are strongest when commissioners, judges, and chairs from all member counties engage.
Committee meeting information is posted on the AOC website on the calendar and on each committee page accessed by the Advocacy drop-down menu.
The AOC Legislative Affairs Department looks forward to a successful and productive month advocating in the State Capitol for counties and the services they provide.
Contributed by Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Jan 28, 2026 | AOC News
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Rachael Gangelhoff as its new Legislative Affairs Coordinator.
Rachael brings over 10 years of valuable experience in local government to the AOC team. She is highly skilled in meeting administration and support, data collection and research, and is a subject matter expert in public meetings and public records. Prior to joining AOC, she served as the Deputy City Recorder for the City of Salem and as the City Recorder for the City of Gresham.
“We are confident that Rachael’s attention to detail and strong organizational skills make her a great addition to our team,” said Executive Director Gina Nikkel.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Dec 12, 2025 | AOC News, Natural Resources
Approximately 40 county commissioners, judges, and supervisors from across the nation met in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties for the first Rural Energy Academy Peer Exchange in early December. Hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and Mana Consulting Group, the peer exchange is designed for county leaders to learn about renewable energy projects and gather the necessary information needed to make educated decisions around renewables in their respective counties. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) members in attendance included Sherman County Judge Joe Dabulskis, Crook County Commissioner Susan Hermreck, Gilliam County Judge Cris Patnode, and Wasco County Commissioner Phil Brady.
Program participants first visited Pachwáywit Fields, the largest operating solar project in Oregon. County leaders not only saw the massive footprint of the solar site but learned how large-scale solar projects are integrated and managed with stewardship practices like seasonal grazing of sheep.
Next, the group traveled to Leaning Juniper II Wind Farm where Avangrid presented a technical overview of their wind projects in the region. Avangrid covered the early project development, operations and decommissioning, and repowering practices. Attendees were able to ask questions not only to the developers but also to local Oregon officials in Wasco, Gilliam and Sherman counties on how renewable projects benefit their counties.
The tour continued at Avangrid’s National Training Facility where attendees got an up-close view of tools, equipment, and the training environment used in utility-scale wind and solar operations. The day concluded with a panel discussion featuring regional county leaders and advocates. Panelists shared practical insights from their work with local governments, highlighted considerations that strengthen the county voice during major project discussions, and discussed lessons learned for the region. The panel included Sherman County Judge Joe Dabulskis, former Community Renewable Energy Association (CREA) Executive Director Mike McArthur, and AOC Legislative Affairs Manager Branden Pursinger.
The peer exchange wrapped up with a discussion on ways to support regional energy workforce and data centers.
“It was an honor that NACo chose Sherman County as the first location to launch their energy peer exchange,” said Judge Dabulskis. “It was very educational; I feel I learned as much as anybody that attended and more than anything the networking with peers around the country was priceless.”
Conversations have already begun on how to bring this peer exchange to more county elected officials and how to tailor the conversations to be state specific.
Contributed by: Legislative Affairs Manager Branden Pursinger
Dec 12, 2025 | AOC News, Events
The 2025 Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Annual Conference, held Nov. 19-22 in Eugene, Ore., brought together over 600 county officials, agency leaders, partners, and exhibitors for three days of focused networking, learning, and relationship building to better serve Oregon’s communities.
Kicking off the conference was a powerful message of hope and survival from Keynote Speaker Kevin Hines. Hines, who survived a suicide attempt off the Golden Gate Bridge, told the captivated audience to help those who may be in pain and commit to “be here tomorrow, and every day after that.”
Mental health was the focus of this year’s conference, serving as the presidential initiative of outgoing AOC President, Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer.
“The powerful keynote from Kevin Hines set a purposeful tone for the conference,” said President Shafer, “reinforcing the critical importance of mental health initiatives.”
This focus carried through the conference sessions, which featured critical discussions on empowering local mental health authorities, the local impact of federal health and human services policy changes, and addressing county-level challenges within healthcare systems.
On the second day, Governor Tina Kotek joined the conference, emphasizing the need for counties and the state to collaborate. “I will be a strong partner with our counties,” Kotek promised, “to make sure we help Oregonians and we move the state forward.”
The governor encouraged attendees to foster regional partnerships during the afternoon agency meet and greet, a valuable opportunity for engagement with state and federal agency leaders.
Beyond mental health, speakers addressed a range of critical issues facing Oregon’s counties and the essential services they provide, including road safety, public health modernization, county revenue, emergency management, and energy capacity.
A key moment of the conference was the graduation ceremony for AOC’s County College program. Designed for new commissioners, judges, chairs, and high-level staff, the program offers a comprehensive overview of the responsibilities and authorities of a county and county elected officials. County leaders from twenty-one counties completed the six-month program.
For newly elected officials, the program is an invaluable resource. Baker County Commissioner Michelle Kaseberg credits her experience at County College with “helping me connect the information shared at the AOC Annual Conference to real-world county operations.”
In addition to educational sessions and networking opportunities, one of the highlights every year is Wander Oregon, an event that showcases the diverse offerings of Oregon’s counties. Nineteen counties shared their finest food, beverages, and artisanal products – from fry bread and seafood to lavender, cheeses and much more. We are grateful to all participating counties and their staff for making Wander Oregon a wonderful celebration of what Oregon has to offer.
“The 2025 AOC Annual Conference was an overwhelming success, bringing together dedicated county leaders and partners to focus on the most pressing issues facing Oregon’s communities,” said Executive Director Gina Nikkel. “This event proved once again to be an indispensable forum for networking, collaboration, and building the partnerships necessary to effectively serve all Oregonians.”
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
