2008 NACo Conference

Kansas City  MO

Executive Director Peg Reagan and Council Member Bob Jacobson of Hawaii County HI, a member of our
Advisory Committee, work the booth on opening day of the Annual Conference in Kansas City in July.

Our “Conservation Makes $ense” booth focuses on the economic benefits of natural resource conservation.   Executive Director Peg Reagan was assisted by  Commissioner Robert Downing of Calhoun County AL,  Supervisor Brett Hulsey of Dane County WI,  Commissioner Barry Jacobs of Orange County NC, Council Member Bob Jacobson of Hawaii County HI,  Commissioner Carol Fordonski of Queen Anne’s County MD, Commissioner Mike Murray of Lewis & Clark County MT and Freeholder Beth Timberman of Salem County NJ.

We co-hosted, with Dane County WI Supervisor Brett Hulsey, the “Conversation on Conservation” on Sunday evening.  An informal gathering of conservation-minded county officials and staff, it serves to provide a congenial atmosphere to make new contacts and discuss environmental issues. 

Commissioner Barry Jacobs of Orange County  NC, new chair of the Conservation Leaders Network’s
Board of Directors, discussing climate change issues with representatives of Climate Communities.

Carol Fordonski, Commissioner, Queen Anne’s County MD, assists one of the many county officials
who agreed that, “Yes!  I want to work with my colleagues to protect America’s natural resources.”

Commissioner Howard Kessler of Wakulla County FL becomes a member of the
Conservation Leaders Network at our “Conservation Makes $ense” booth.

Calhoun County  AL  Commissioner Robert Downing working the booth.

Here is Executive Director Peg Reagan with the "Green Elvis."  Green Elvis sang original environmental songs put to famous Elvis tunes, which he performed live, accompanying himself on the guitar.

Commissioner Tresi Houpt of Garfield County CO makes a point on clean water during an informal gathering before the Environment, Energy and Land Use Committee meeting.  The group succeeded in getting the Committee to reject its prior position in opposition to protecting America’s clean water. 

Facing the camera, from L to R, are Commissioner Robert Downing, Calhoun County AL, Commissioner Dave Maturen, Kalamazoo County MI, Commissioner Cliff Thaell, Leon County FL, Commissioner Houpt, Supervisor Andrea McGimsey, Loudoun County  VA, Supervisor Brett Hulsey, Dane County WI, Commissioner Matt Veldran, Dane County WI, and Justice of the Peace Wilandra Dean, Pulaski County AR.  Also pictured, from L to R, are Council Member Bob Weiner, New Castle County DE, Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, Ramsey County MN, Executive Director Peg Reagan, Commissioner Carol Fordonski, Queen Anne’s County, and Commissioner Howard Kessler, Wakulla County FL.  Participants not pictured include Commissioner Kristen Jacobs, Broward County FL, Freeholder Beth Timberman, Salem County NJ, and Council Member Roger Berliner, Montgomery County MD.

And here Executive Director Peg Reagan calls on the next speaker during the same meeting.

Photo credit: David Hathcox

Calhoun County AL Commissioner Robert Downing speaking to the board on behalf of Clean Water.
To his left is Dane County WI Supervisor Brett Husley.

We successfully worked with members of NACo’s Environment, Energy and Land Use Committee to defeat a resolution significantly reducing clean water protections.  While our side prevailed at the Committee, which is charged with setting NACo’s water policy, the NACo Board of Directors disregarded the Committee’s recommendation and approved the harmful resolution. 

However, the Board also approved a resolution to protect drinking water, one to support funding for a Clean Water Trust Fund, and a compromise “Waters of the US Task Force” resolution. 

Needless to say, current NACo water policy is somewhat confusing at best.  It remains to be seen how NACo staff is going to work the issue without being perceived as schizophrenic in the Capitol.

  Click here to see the list of material we distributed.  Our “Money for Counties” handout was, as usual, very popular.

Once again the Conservation Leaders Network purchased carbon credits for the flight through www.terrapass.com.  We recognize that carbon credits aren’t going to solve global warming, but it’s a baby step every flier should take.

We also attended the NACo Public Lands Committee, which sets NACo policy on many significant environmental issues.  For example, NACo lobbies to create RS2477 rights-of-way across public lands, gut the Endangered Species Act,  oppose sensible mining regulations and support aggressive logging in federal forests. 

Until recently, that committee has consisted of 1 to 3 pro-environment members and 40+ rabidly anti-environment members.  But in the last year or two, membership has become more balanced.  The committee meeting at the  annual conference demonstrated for the first time that there is finally a sufficient pro-environment number of votes on the committee that a couple more could swing the committee as a whole.  Even if you don’t have public lands in your county, your constituents own America’s public lands and should have a voice in NACo’s policies.

Now is the time to consider joining the Public Lands Committee.  For more information, call us at 541 247-8079.

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Thank you to all the members, booth co-sponsors and Conservation Contacts who made special contributions to help bring our “Conservation Makes $ense” booth to this year’s conference.

This year’s booth co-sponsors were The Wilderness Society and Sierra Club; we couldn't do it without them.

Thank you to our many “Conservation Contacts,” statewide groups who recognize the value in working with county officials to protect America’s natural resources:

Alaska Conservation Alliance
Sierra Club--Grand Canyon Chapter
California League of Conservation Voters
Colorado Environmental Coalition
Florida League of Conservation Voters
Hawaii’s Thousand Friends
Conservation Voters for Idaho
Iowa Environmental Council
Michigan Environmental Council
Missouri Coalition for the Environment
Northern Plains Resource Council
Rio Grande Sierra Club
Ohio League of Conservation Voters
Oregon Wild
Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club
Virginia Conservation Network
The Lands Council
Wyoming Outdoor Council.

Thanks to the following county officials who worked our “Conservation Makes $ense” booth with Executive Director Peg Reagan:     

• Freeholder Beth Timberman of Salem County NJ

• Commissioner Robert Downing of Calhoun County AL

• Supervisor Brett Hulsey of Dane County WI

• Commissioner Carol Fordonski of Queen Anne’s County MD 

• Commissioner Barry Jacobs of Orange County NC

• Council Member Bob Jacobson of Hawaii County HI

• Commissioner Mike Murray of Lewis & Clark County MT

You can view photos from previous conferences at Gallery of Past Events.

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