From the Director’s Desk

County Lines

Magazine

County Lines is the official publication of the Association of Arkansas Counties. It is published quarterly. For advertising inquiries, subscriptions or other information relating to the magazine, please contact Christy L. Smith at csmith@arcounties.org or 501.372.7550.

Executive Director / Publisher Chris Villines Communications Director/ Managing Editor Christy L. Smith

AAC Executive Board:

Judy Beth Hutcherson – President Debbie Wise – Vice President

Brandon Ellison – Secretary-Treasurer Sherry Bell Debra Buckner Ellen Foote Jeanne Andrews Brenda DeShields Jimmy Hart John Montgomery Gerone Hobbs Rhonda Cole Sandra Cawyer David Thompson Bill Hollenbeck Angela Hill Debbie Cross

National Association of Counties (NACo) Board Affiliations Judy Beth Hutcherson: NACo board member.

She is the Clark County Treasurer and president of the AAC Board of Directors.

Debbie Wise: NACo board member. She is the

Randolph County Circuit Clerk, vice president of the AAC Board of Directors and chair of AAC’s

Legislative Committee. Ted Harden: Finance & Intergovernmental Affairs

Steering Committee. He serves on the Jefferson

County Quorum Court. Kasey Summerville: Finance, Pensions & Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee. She is the

Clark County Assessor. David Hudson: Vice Chair of NACo’s Justice and

Public Safety Steering Committee. He is the

Sebastian County Judge and member of the Rural

Action Caucus Steering Committee. Barry Hyde: Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee. He is the Pulaski County Judge.

Saying ‘good-bye’ to a dear friend

Director’s Desk

For the third time in the last six years we mourn the untimely passing of an AAC associate. It feels a bit awkward not using the word “employee” there because even though Wes Fowler had retired from the AAC and later rejoined us as a consultant, he was as big a part of this office as many who walk in the doors each day.

The first day of February, like many other days during Chris Villines a legislative session, was spent planning and going over AAC committee assignments. Wes, like always, was up to the Executive Director task and ready to press county issues at the Capitol. It was clear early on that this session would keep Wes busy with a tire bill, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality concerns and road funding. It was a challenge I think he relished.

Wes also was ready to jump into more county clerk issues this session, with a desire to educate wayward legislators on the ins and outs of elections — and a pragmatic ability to explain why things work the way they do. Many of you have had the opportunity to work alongside him at the Capitol, and all have walked away in awe of his ability to communicate our issues as counties. Little did we know that the next day we’d be picking up his flag and pushing on without him.

People in county government with his abilities are few and far between — and unfortunately dwindling. First elected as the Madison County Clerk in 1989, Wes learned the job quickly … so quickly that he decided he ought to learn the rest of the jobs around the courthouse. This desire for knowledge, coupled with an ability to understand computers, catapulted Wes into the courthouse “Swiss army knife” role — and eventually into the Madison County judge’s office in 1998.

During his time as a clerk he was instrumental in developing motor-voter laws and early voting. He was actually invited to the House floor to give testimony to the full House at one point as a clerk, an honor and sign of respect not bestowed on many others.

I first met Wes in the early 2000s. He was heavily involved in the county judges’ association at that point, and he served on the AAC board of directors. He instantly earned my respect. We worked together through the years either on the AAC board or the AAC Legislative Committee, roles he took seriously and worked hard at.

So in 2010 when I became director at the AAC, I called Wes. I knew he would bring the perfect balance of experience and knowledge to our office and could help out with our judges and clerks. Little did I know he would quickly become one of my best friends. I have learned over time to value people who don’t always agree with me. None of us have the market cornered on being right all the time. I especially value those who speak truth into my life. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Wes was that sincere friend, and today I am a better man because of those wounds.

I learned new phrases from Wes that I still use today. I believe my all-time favorite sentence from Wes was, “I reckon we got a crapload of rain last night in Huntsville.” Or maybe it was the word “You-uns” when he was addressing two or more people.

Another thing I can tell you is that Wes could fix anything. I asked him early in >>>