Mary Jo McGuire - 2021 candidate platform

Mary Jo McGuire

Commissioner, Ramsey County, Minn.

I’m Mary Jo McGuire and I am excited to be running for 2nd Vice President of the National Association of Counties (NACo).  Talking with many of you over these last few months, I am continually impressed by the innovative and vital work that county leaders are doing across the US.  From east to west and north to south, counties are playing a critical role in providing essential services and improving the quality of life in our communities.

As public servants, county leaders have always been faced with difficult decisions but this moment in time has brought unprecedented challenges.  Despite a global pandemic, a struggling economy and high unemployment, we have rallied to engage our partners in Congress to help us safely deliver services and support emergency relief efforts - and NACo was an essential part of that effort.  Now more than ever, the value of NACo is clear.  As your next 2nd Vice President, I want to ensure that NACo continues to be a strong and effective organization and to help grow it forward.

I am well-prepared for this role because I currently serve as the 2nd Vice President of the non-partisan Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC).  You can find among Minnesota’s 87 counties the same range of communities that exist throughout the US.  From the diverse economies of the Twin Cities, to the agriculture economy of rural towns on the prairie, to the tourism economy of Minnesota lake country, to the mines, timber and factories of the Iron Range, each area has its own unique priorities, challenges and strengths.  I was elected to lead AMC because I have forged connections across all regions and walks of life to ensure that it continues to serve as the united voice for all 87 counties.  I will bring this same effort and enthusiasm to my leadership at NACo.

For those of you who don’t know me, I grew up the second of six children in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul and home of the Minnesota State Fair (which I love!).  Growing up, I participated in many activities including 4H, Camp Fire, biking, skating and softball, and I continue to enjoy outdoor sports and activities such as skiing, biking, hiking and kayaking. 

What inspires me is the opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives.  Over my 24 years in public service - 16 years as a Minnesota State Legislator and eight as a Ramsey County Commissioner - I have dedicated my life to helping my community and fostering strong and enduring relationships.  I am proud to represent the community where I was born and raised and am active in our local Rotary Club, Optimist Club and Chamber of Commerce business councils.  I feel especially fortunate to now be working at the county level at a moment when counties are on the front line of crucial life-saving public health and safety efforts.

A county commissioner since 2013, my colleagues and I have worked hard to ensure that we operate in a manner that is transparent, efficient and cost-effective.  In a major effort, we successfully restructured our county government, streamlining our administrative structure, and discovered new synergies between departments that had previously operated in silos.  In my most recent campaign for re-election, I earned the support of a wide variety of community organizations, including the endorsement of my local Chamber of Commerce.

In regard to my involvement in NACo, I have learned that one of the most important contributions anyone can make is to simply show up and do the work.  I do my best to bring my passion, energy and a positive attitude to this effort.  I am an active member of the NACo network and have enjoyed working with you as colleagues and friends.  Specifically, I have served in multiple NACo leadership positions including Chair and Vice-Chair of Healthy Counties and Vice-Chair of Programs and Services.  I also am a long-time member of the Justice and Public Safety Committee and Vice-Chair of several of its subcommittees.  In addition, my work with the Arts and Culture Commission, the Resilient Counties Advisory Board, and Women of NACo has been particularly fulfilling.

Finally, I want to emphasize the critical importance of diversity of membership and the need to ensure that all voices are heard.  We all benefit when people of differing viewpoints and life experiences are engaged in the pursuit of solutions to our problems. 

Moving forward, I see three key opportunities for NACo leadership to focus on in the years ahead:

1. Increasing Membership and Engagement

Our members are a valuable resource for sharing ideas, advocating for county needs and developing innovative policies.  The more diverse our membership, the more we have to learn from each other.  Growing our membership and increasing engagement is therefore critical to our success.

Throughout the pandemic, NACo’s nimble and productive staff has done a great job of helping us stay connected by providing countless virtual learning and networking opportunities and assisting us in maintaining existing relationships and building new ones.  We all gain from a robust membership of counties and commissioners, as well as their active engagement, to effectively shape NACo’s legislative agenda, programs and services.

In addition to members, we also need to bring strategic partners to the table.  Our financial stability as an organization depends on expanding our for-profit and premier partners and the services and programs of NACo’s Financial Services Corporation.  Increasing revenues and establishing broader relationships nationwide will expand the range of work that NACo can do for our members at all levels.

I want to work with all of you to continue NACo’s great work and explore further creative ways to educate and engage our counties.  I am proud of the fact that Minnesota is a 100% state - all our counties are members of both NACo and our state association.  At AMC, we have made a concerted effort to help everyone realize the benefits of participation and membership in NACo.  I will bring this same focus and dedication to NACo and will work to expand NACo’s outreach and engagement to State Executives and Associations.

2. Strengthening our Partnership with Congress and the Administration

NACo must work to ensure that we have a strong working relationship with the White House, Congress and Federal agencies.  As counties incubate innovative new policies and programs, we know that sometimes changes are needed at other levels of government for our efforts to have the impact intended.  Likewise, we need to be at the table when programs and policies that affect counties originate at the Federal level.

NACo has just had an incredibly successful year, advocating for our counties’ needs in responding to the pandemic.  We need to continue educating the Administration and Congress on the expansive role that counties play and how we can help each other to collectively better serve our communities.

As a long-time public servant, I have extensive experience building relationships and partnerships with policymakers at all levels and would bring this knowledge to my leadership role at NACo.

3. Bringing America Together

The beauty and strength of America is our diversity.   Here in Minnesota, we have as wide a range of viewpoints, backgrounds and lifestyles as anywhere in the country.  In my work with the State Legislature and AMC, my goal has always been to work together and build consensus to make our communities stronger.  NACo is an essential resource to help bring together different perspectives to address issues that matter to us all, such as the use of pandemic recovery dollars, and to support regional priorities such as relief from storms, flooding and other natural disasters.

In a nation as expansive as the United States, we know there is no one-size-fits-all solution to our problems, but it is critical that we find common ground where we can.  To get there, I believe we should start with deliberate, facilitated discussions among small groups, like the NACo Board and our committees, and then bring it to the greater membership.

I will work with the NACo Board, committee chairs and membership to ensure NACo is inclusive in their approach to issues and engagement and that we are focused on addressing the most pressing needs of our diverse membership.

Please contact me at maryjofornaco@gmail.com or 651-560-6231 if you have questions or would just like to talk with me.  More information is available at www.maryjomcguire.com.  

I look forward to connecting with all of you in the coming months.  I am eager to learn what is important to you and your county and how we can best move forward together.  I am excited about this opportunity to serve you and with you.  I ask for your support - and your vote!