Forsyth County District 4 Commissioner and Vice Chairman Cindy Jones Mills was recently named as the 2015-2016 Chairman of the General County Government Policy Committee for ACCG, Georgia’s county association. The appointment was made by ACCG President and Gwinnett County Chairman Charlotte Nash during the 2015 ACCG Annual Conference held at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.
Legislative advocacy and public policy development are two of the primary services that ACCG provides to Georgia counties. The association uses a consensus-based policy committee process to bring together county commissioners and county staff to discuss issues of concern to county government that require changes to state and federal laws and agency policies. Policy committees develop positions on key issues, which become part of the County Platform. The County Platform is voted on by the membership at the ACCG Legislative Leadership Conference held annually in October. ACCG policy staff use the County Platform to guide advocacy efforts on behalf of counties during the legislative session.
“Policy committee leaders serve an essential function by leading their peers in the discussion of critical issues facing Georgia counties,” said ACCG Executive Director Ross King. “These committees provide a forum for learning more about key policy issues, and our chairs and vice chairs are responsible for helping to lead the discussion and develop consensus.”
The General County Government Committee handles issues involving the structure of county government and intergovernmental relations between counties, constitutional officers, the courts and federal, state and city governments. Other issue areas include elections, ethics, home rule, service delivery, planning and zoning.
“Having served as the Vice Chairman of this committee for the past two years, I am honored to now have the opportunity to step up and serve as Chairman of this committee and to work on legislative issues that have a direct impact on our community,” said Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills. “This committee plays a vital role as a guardian for county government. As legislative bills come forward, the policy council becomes an advocate for county government, in trying to make sure that implied costs are considered before an actual vote occurs. We also work to try to get corrective measures made when a bill might have intended or unintended consequences that have a negative impact on the county, as we saw recently in the juvenile justice reform bill.”
Commissioner Jones Mills will lead the General County Government Policy Committee with Dawson County Commissioner James Swafford, who was named Vice Chairman.
In addition to legislative advocacy, ACCG also provides leadership development, civic and community engagement programs and membership services such as retirement and insurance programs and discounts for counties and county employees. Formed in 1914 when county officials came together to help fund the state’s first highway department, ACCG today serves as a catalyst for advancing Georgia’s counties. For more information, visit www.accg.org.
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