Candidate platform: Joe Briggs

Joe Briggs

Commissioner

Cascade County, Mont.

Dear Colleagues,

When we gather at NACo events I am struck by some seemingly contradictory observations.  We differ in the regions we choose to live in and the population density of our areas. We vary in our religious beliefs, politics, our ethnic makeup, and every other demographic under the sun…and yet we come together as a community to solve problems and learn from one another. 

Our greatest strength is this “togetherness” we share as an organization as well as our individual commitments to serve our communities.  I believe that at the core of this commitment lies hope for the future, faith in humanity, and a passion to make things better for our citizens.

The issues we face in each of our communities are the same throughout all the counties, boroughs, and parishes of America.  Even when one of our counties lack the authority to deal directly with an issue, we still can affect change by using third party organizations and gaining knowledge of what has succeeded elsewhere.  That is one of the many strengths of NACo—we can learn successful solutions from our colleagues and adapt those solutions to the operating environment in which we function. 

Sustaining and expanding membership is one of the key elements of my focus in NACo over the last few years and one that I hope to expand as an officer of the Association.  In my role as West Region Representative to the Executive Committee, I have made membership in the fifteen states of my region a priority, and currently fourteen of those fifteen states are 100% membership states—only three counties in those states are not members of NACo.  The membership staff, membership committee, and I proactively worked with the State Associations and NACo members across the region, reaching out to non-member counties as well as those considering dropping out.  

NACo provides each of our member counties with a wide array of services at a very cost-effective level; but at its core, NACo is held together by our individual passion for finding solutions for our communities and understanding that we must look past our differences and learn from each other.

I have been a full-time County Commissioner for 19.5 years, and it did not take long for me to discover that the existing toolset I had within county government was not able to address all the issues holding back my county.  In an effort to learn from my fellow Montana county officials, I became immersed in the Montana Association of Counties and eventually rose to the position of President within the organization. 

About twelve years ago I became active in NACo, so I could find out how counties across the country were overcoming those same issues that we had at home.  As I did within my State Association, I immersed myself in NACo, and by learning from all of you, I have become a more effective commissioner at home. 

I have served NACo as the Telecommunications and Technology Chair for three years, a Vice Chair of the IT standing Committee, a member of the Membership Committee as well as the NACo Ambassadors, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, and the RAC and the PILT lobbying teams; and as mentioned previously, I am the West Region Representative on the Executive Committee.

The value of volunteerism on behalf of NACo cannot be emphasized enough, but it requires staff support to be effective.  For example, the efforts that brought ARPA funding to every county, borough, and parish in America required a superb lobbying team along with engaged members in every state.  A second great illustration is PILT and SRS; we maintain that funding through active members nationwide, alongside our NACo staff and financial resources.

Maintaining membership and establishing long-term financial stability are currently critical challenges for NACo.  The ARPA funds represented a very tangible direct return-on-investment for our members and fueled an increase in membership.  So how do we sustain that gain and momentum post ARPA?  We must keep in mind that most of our member counties do not attend NACo conferences and therefore do not take advantage of the invaluable information exchange, so we must demonstrate our ongoing value in another fashion.

Joe’s Goals

As a candidate running for NACo 2nd Vice President, my primary goals revolve around ensuring the financial resilience of our Association, fostering unity, and sustaining our record membership levels. 

To address the financial challenges from the US Communities sale, we have been working as a board and Executive Committee to develop a robust Financial Resilience Plan emphasizing transparent communication and creating alternative revenue streams. If elected 2nd Vice President, I would be able to continue this work and see it through to the end.

Additionally, my NACo Unity Campaign would seek to maintain a non-partisan and professional environment, encouraging open dialogue to bridge differences among our diverse membership as well as setting an example for our federal partners. 

Finally, the Association is strong, but there is greater strength in greater numbers, and there is only so much our dedicated staff can do. Elected officials who are active in the Association are the best Ambassadors to their peers, advocating the importance of both staying involved with NACo and joining NACo.  It is our stories of how our counties, boroughs, and parishes have benefited from our involvement in our association that will carry the day, which is what my Membership Engagement and Sustainability Program intends to do through a national outreach system, materials, coordination team, and more. 

It is my passion for NACo and County Government that has convinced me to run for 2nd Vice President.  There is more work needed to sustain NACo, and I can best continue those efforts as an officer of NACo.  Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen NACo’s influence and uphold its vital role in county governance and operations. 

Very Respectfully, 

Joe Briggs

NACo 2nd VP Candidate

Go For Joe