A leadership example to follow

It’s time for me to formally welcome all the new county and district officials who took office in January. By this time, you have gotten your feet wet and probably have a lot of questions. As you seek answers to those questions, I urge you to utilize all the tools available to you — this magazine, the list servs, your continuing education meetings, and your liaisons at the AAC.

I also encourage you to assess your role as a leader in your office, your association, and your community.

As a county or district official, you are automatically considered a leader in your community. And that means you must develop and work alongside others to achieve success on a larger scale.

Some of you have already taken on leadership positions in your association, and others have gotten involved in the legislative process. I applaud you for that. The more you can learn and become involved in the activities taking place outside of your office, the better. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.

AAC Consultant Eddie A. Jones is a prime example of someone who did just that. As a result, he has become a leader among leaders in county government. Most of you heard him speak about budgeting during your new elect seminar in December. But his expertise goes far beyond just budgeting.

Eddie is a former Randolph County treasurer and a former director of the AAC.

When he was interviewed for this magazine in 2007 after becoming director of the AAC, he said, “County government has been a passion of mine for many years. I relish the opportunity to lead AAC. I intend to work hard and work for all nine affiliate associations of AAC. I will work for every elected county official in the state. I work for you, and I plan to do my very best. I want good things to happen for county government. I will continue to urge myself and the staff to strive for excellence.”

He did not speak of working to ensure his success. He spoke of working to ensure the success of county officials and of county government overall — and he has done just that in his various roles. Through the years he has served as a mentor and friend to many, including myself. His guidance has inspired me to be the best I can be, both personally and professionally.

Eddie writes a column for this magazine. Over the course of the years, he has written about topics such as ethics, using knowledge to act wisely, leadership, and more.

In the Fall 2022 issue of County Lines, he wrote a column entitled “Being a leader is not about you!” He spoke about how leaders must step up and help others succeed.

“The ultimate measure of leaders is their ability to help those around them become successful. It’s not about them helping you become successful; it’s about a selfless devotion to the people who work to help the county achieve its purpose and goals,” he wrote.

I encourage you to keep those words at the forefront of your mind and aspire to be the type of leader Eddie A. Jones is.

Debbie

Did an aspect of county government “make news” recently in your county? Did any of your county officials or staff get an award, appointment or pat on the back? Please let us know about it for the next edition of County Lines magazine. You can write up a couple of paragraphs about it, or if something ran in your local paper, call and ask them to forward the story to us. We encourage you or your newspaper to attach a good quality photo, too: e-mail csmith@arcounties.org.