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
Sep 25, 2025 | AOC News, Events
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) will hold its annual conference Nov. 18-20, 2025, bringing together elected officials, community partners, county staff, and state and federal partners to collaborate, learn, and grow. County officials and staff from across the state participate in the three-day event aimed at networking and education to improve delivery of county services and the efficiency of county government.
This year’s conference will center on critical issues affecting counties, focusing on policy and legislation related to county budgets, services, and governance. Concurrent educational sessions will cover timely topics such as road safety, public health modernization, county revenue, emergency management, and energy capacity.
A key focus of the conference will be the county’s role as the local mental health authority. This theme reflects the year-long presidential initiative of AOC President and Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer, who encouraged members to engage in strengthening their local mental health authority.
“Strengthening mental health services is a top priority,” Shafer said. “This year’s conference is an opportunity for us to come together, share solutions, and build collaborative partnerships that will help us better serve our communities.”
This initiative will be highlighted through concurrent sessions on county health and human services; a keynote presentation by Kevin Hines, a survivor, storyteller, filmmaker, and mental health champion; and a special session devoted to Shafer’s initiative. During the presidential initiative session, a panel of local partners will discuss how collaboration between peer support leaders, criminal justice officials, and other local mental health authorities strengthens mental health services and meets community needs.
Beyond the formal sessions, the conference also features valuable opportunities for networking and fun. This includes the Federal and State Agency Meet and Greet, and Wander Oregon, where counties will showcase their finest food, beverages, and artisanal products from across the state.
Online registration closes Saturday, Nov. 1. Find the full agenda and registration information on AOC’s conference webpage.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Dec 5, 2024 | AOC News, Events, News
Over 600 county officials, agency leaders, partners, and exhibitors converged at the 2024 AOC Annual Conference held Nov. 19-22, in Eugene, Oregon. This three-day event focused on networking, learning, and building relationships to better serve Oregon’s communities.
Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell, the outgoing AOC president, emphasized the importance of collaboration and engagement. “The conference reflected the work of the association this year,” said Bethell, “where we showed up, worked out our differences, and came together to advocate for all counties.”
Bethell passed the torch to Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer, who will lead the organization in 2025. Other newly elected officers include First Vice President Erin Skaar (Tillamook), Second Vice President Joe Dabulskis (Sherman), and Treasurer James Williams (Lake). Bethell was installed as Immediate Past President.
Both general sessions focused on navigating our differences. Keynote speaker Tareq Azim challenged the audience to embrace fear and shared tools to encourage them to create spaces to address uncomfortable topics. Kit Chalberg, Senior Director, Programs for Convergence, led an interactive session on how to bridge divides in our organizations and communities.
A special orientation was held for newly elected commissioners, judges, and chairs. This half-day session provided an opportunity for commissioners-elect to hear tips for a successful first year in office from the AOC Executive Committee and the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. All newly elected commissioners are invited to attend AOC’s County College, which begins in January.
Educational sessions addressed critical issues facing Oregon’s counties, including transportation funding, rural housing, wildfire mitigation, and land use policy. Key themes included the need for sustainable funding, innovative partnerships, and data-driven approaches to address these challenges.
Governor Tina Kotek joined the conference to express her gratitude to county leaders for working tirelessly to lift up their communities. She emphasized the importance of a strong partnership between the state and counties, highlighting shared values and a commitment to collaborative problem-solving.
The conference also featured a lunch session with Western Interstate Region (WIR) President Wes McCart, an update from the Oregon Public Utility Commission, and numerous networking opportunities, including an agency partner meet and greet and meetings with federal delegation staff.
The conference concluded with “Wander Oregon,” a product tasting that showcased the diverse offerings of Oregon’s counties. Attendees sampled an array of local delights, including cheese and charcuterie, pastries and pies, handcrafted chocolates, local honey and lavender, craft beers and wine, and authentic fry bread.
Executive Director Gina Nikkel reflected on the conference, stating, “This invaluable time together allowed us to strengthen connections, identify shared goals, and collaboratively work toward solutions that benefit our communities. We look forward to working with President Shafer and all our members next year to continue supporting counties and their communities.”
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Sep 30, 2024 | AOC News, Events
AOC’s Annual Conference, held in Lane County, Nov. 19-21, draws together a cross section of elected officials, county staff, partners, and other participants for educational opportunities, leadership development, and networking.
AOC President and Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell was instrumental in shaping the programming for this year’s conference. Her focus as president — fostering engagement and collaboration — will be evident through numerous opportunities, including an expanded attendee lounge to enhance connections.
“This year’s conference will embody our motto — United Counties, United Oregon,” said Bethell, “and serve as a powerful reflection of the critical work counties do for Oregon and the collective impact that comes from collaboration.”
The opening general session keynote speaker will present on conquering fear. In addition, a dynamic lineup of educational workshops will provide an in-depth exploration of critical issues impacting the future of our communities:
- 2025 transportation package
- Oregon’s land use system
- County deflection programs
- Wildfires
- County assessment and taxation
- Communicable diseases
- Homelessness
- Community corrections
Attendees from rural and urban counties, large and small, participate in the three-day event aimed at improving residents’ lives and the efficiency of county government.
“AOC’s Annual Conference is an opportunity to celebrate the progress we’ve made and strengthen the partnerships that allow us to deliver even better outcomes for the people of Oregon,” said Executive Director Gina Nikkel. “I look forward to connecting with our members, partners, and county staff from across the state.”
Online registration closes Friday, Nov. 1. Find more information and view the agenda on AOC’s conference webpage.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Sep 24, 2024 | Events, Transportation
The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program is a bi-state effort between Oregon and Washington to replace the aging Interstate Bridge with a safer, earthquake resilient multimodal corridor. It will reconstruct seven interchanges in Portland and Vancouver, create thousands of jobs, improve mobility along the interstate, and provide a new light rail link between Portland Vancouver.
The program published its Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on Sept. 20, 2024, kicking off a 60-day public comment process under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) that will run through Nov.18, 2024.
Program Administrator Greg Johnson will be joining the Association of Counties (AOC) and League of Oregon Cities (LOC) on Oct. 25, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a virtual presentation to talk about the IBR program, highlight the key findings of the Draft SEIS, and outline how to participate in the public comment process.
Join the webinar here. (New link)
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Aug 29, 2024 | AOC News, Events
The Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), the League of Oregon Cities (LOC), and the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) are co-hosting a webinar on Sept. 18, 12-1 p.m., to provide a forum for city and county representatives to learn more about DLCD’s Goal 5 Cultural Areas rulemaking process. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) initiated this rulemaking in November 2023.
Register for the webinar here.
DLCD staff also will hold office hours for informal discussion in September and October. Please sign up to receive additional information on the rulemaking and implementation processes by signing up for emails here. Staff anticipate the first hearing on the draft rules to be held during LCDC’s September meeting on Sept. 25. The period for formal written comment on the draft rules will be Sept. 1 to Oct. 16. DLCD staff are recommending an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.
Background: while statewide land use planning Goal 5 includes reference to the inventory and associated strategies to protect cultural resources, the goal does not define or operationalize protections for these areas. In 1996, the LCDC adopted rules for inventorying and protecting other resources in OAR Chapter 660 Division 23. Developing similar guidelines for cultural areas was postponed at this time until statewide government-to-government relationships were better established.
Additional materials are online here.
DLCD encourages comments submitted to dlcd.goal5CA@dlcd.oregon.gov. Questions are also welcome to Amanda.Punton@dlcd.oregon.gov.
