3 minute read
President’s Perspective
The leadership behind the AAC
Executive Director Chris Villines is one of the most visible figures within the Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC). However, the executive director position itself might be one of the least understood. What exactly does the executive director do? In a word — everything.
Chris, who was hired by the AAC Board of Directors in mid-2010, is the eighth executive director the AAC has seen since its establishment in 1968 as a small lobbyist firm.
His predecessors include Frank Bizzell (1969 to late 1974), Carl J. Madsen (late 1974 to Feb. 1975), former Lee County Sheriff Courtney Langston (Feb. 1975 to 1988), former Baxter County Judge James H. Baker (1988 to Oct. 2000), former White County Judge David Morris (Oct. 2000 to Jan. 2001), Brenda Pruitt (Jan. 2001 to 2006), and former Randolph County Treasurer/Comptroller Eddie A. Jones (2007 to June 2010).
The role of the AAC has evolved through the years. It is now a “multi-faceted service organization for Arkansas’ 75 counties,” according to Eddie Jones, who continues to work with the AAC as a consultant — and is known as the resident historian.
So too the role of the executive director has evolved through the years.
“The first AAC executive director was primarily a legislative lobbyist with two employees and a small rented office space,” Eddie said. “Today’s executive director has about three dozen employees and an 18,800-square-foot office facility owned by the counties of Arkansas and provides a myriad of services.”
Today’s executive director essentially manages three companies: the AAC, the AAC Risk Management Fund, and the AAC Worker’s Compensation Trust. In addition, he oversees a legislative/policy team, a communications department, a continuing education department, a finance/accounting department, a risk management department, and a worker’s compensation department.
The executive director’s duties don’t begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. He is on constant call, responding to legislators, the Governor, any of the 1,332 county and district officials the AAC serves … and others. He attends state government meetings, legislative meetings, and national meetings. He oversees the organization and orchestration of the AAC summer conference each year. He juggles a lot, and I commend Chris for juggling it so successfully. He is a true leader and visionary, like those who preceded him.
During Chris’ tenure, all 75 counties have joined the AAC Risk Management program. The AAC enjoys a healthy relationship with the Arkansas Municipal League (ARML). In fact, the AAC and the ARML joined together, along with the state, to undertake a massive lawsuit against the opioid industry. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Chris immediately assembled an expert team to provide county and district officials with information regarding jails, employment issues, and general information about the virus. He has been vocal in his defense of our retirement system.
Did you know Chris is immediate past president of the National Council of County Association Executives, (NCCAE) a committee of the National Association of Counties (NACo)? His work on that committee cast a national spotlight on him, AAC and Arkansas. He advocated for us not only on the state stage, but also on the national stage. As a result, the AAC is one of the strongest county government associations in the country.
We have been blessed to have confident and talented people serving in the executive director’s role at the AAC. And I am proud to have Chris Villines at the helm at this time in our history.
Debbie Wise Randolph County Circuit Clerk / AAC Board President
DEBBIE WISE AAC Board President; Randolph County Circuit Clerk
