Thirty-seven Oregon county commissioners, judges, chairs, and staff traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the 2023 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, held February 11-14.

County officials also met with Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to advocate for Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) federal policy priorities.

First-time attendee, Polk County Commissioner Jeremy Gordon commented, “It was powerful to join my AOC colleagues to speak with Senators Wyden and Merkley with one voice around our shared needs for behavioral health crisis services, housing, flexible transportation funding, and sustained SRS funding.”

During the conference, the Oregon delegation engaged in NACo policy discussions through NACo’s policy steering committee process, as well as breakout sessions, and general sessions, hearing from a range of speakers in the federal government, including President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and administration staff.

“Learning the ways we can leverage this time of historic investment to help our communities is motivating. Figuring out how to navigate the federal funding streams provides an abundance of opportunities,” said Klamath County Commissioner Kelley Minty of the programming and resources provided during the conference.

The conference offers not only policy discussions, but a platform for connecting with commissioners across the United States. “I was able to learn about commonalities and the innovative ways federal programs are implemented in other communities, and through the Human Services and Education Steering Committee, I was able to give voice to the mental health struggles Polk County youth and adults are experiencing and ways we can better align the intentions of federal programs with my community’s needs,” said Gordon.

AOC Executive Director Gina Firman Nikkel added, “The conference is a key point for our commissioners to network together, get to know each other, build trust, and meet commissioners from other counties to work on key issues that are important to them.”

NACo steering committees tackled a number of issues relevant for counties across the U.S. and took positions on policies that would inform NACo’s work among federal agencies, Congress, and the White House on issues ranging from wildfire, to health care, to broadband, among others. 

The work addressed in the steering committees unite counties across the United States in their advocacy efforts at the national level. Tillamook County Commissioner David Yamamoto agreed, “The issues that we face in individual counties across Oregon and all across Oregon are the same issues that you find across the nation.”

Notably, during the final day of the conference, NACo announced the appointment of AOC Executive Director Gina Firman Nikkel, Ph.D. to the newly created NACo Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. The commission will work to drive change in the nation’s mental health system and policies.

“Participating in NACo is one of the best things you can do not only for your professional development, but you bring new and innovative ideas back to your county,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader, who chairs the NACo Community, Economic, and Workforce Development Steering Committee. She urged county officials to engage in their national association.

County officials across Oregon found meaning in the program content, as well as the networking opportunities. “The great thing about NACo is the comradery,” said Yamamoto.

Proposed NACo Interim Policy Resolutions can be found here.

AOC federal priorities can be found here.

Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate