Catawba's Barnes, Edgecombe's Harris share Outstanding County Commissioner of the Year honors

By Todd McGee
Communications Director

In such a historic year for counties, NCACC President Terry Garrison said he could not pick just one commissioner to honor with the 2007 Outstanding County Commissioner Award. So he chose two.

Catawba County Commissioner Kitty Barnes and Edgecombe County Commissioner Viola Harris were instrumental in helping counties obtain Medicaid and revenue options during the 2007 legislative session. (Photo by Jason King)

During the President’s Banquet on Aug. 18, Garrison announced that he had selected Edgecombe County Commissioner Viola Harris and Catawba County Chair Kitty Barnes as winners of the Outstanding County Commissioner Award for 2006-07.

“One of the toughest decisions made by the president each year is deciding the winner of the Outstanding County Commissioner Award,” Garrison said. “It is hard to pick just one from 572 commissioners – so I didn’t. I picked two.”

Harris served as chair of the NCACC’s Presidential Task Force on Affordable Housing for 2006-07 and was actively involved in the Association’s grassroots lobbying campaign to relieve counties of the Medicaid burden. Harris is also serving as president of the N.C. Association of Black County Officials.

“Whenever we put out the call for commissioners to come to Raleigh and lobby for Medicaid relief, she was there,” said Garrison. “But her role was not limited to just lobbying for Medicaid relief. Over the past year, she has served as the chair of our affordable housing task force. This task force has been studying ways that counties can help provide affordable housing, particularly for our essential workers.”

Barnes was elected NCACC third vice president in August 2002 after serving on the NCACC Board of Directors for two years as a district director representing Catawba, Caldwell, Burke and Alexander counties. She served as NCACC president for 2005-06 and actively represented the Association in Washington, D.C., and in Raleigh on several critical legislative issues, including Medicaid relief.

“We would not have achieved Medicaid relief this session were it not for the involvement of Past President Barnes,” said Garrison. “She was constantly in touch with legislators and helped keep the issue at the forefront during this session.”

Barnes was originally elected to the Catawba County Board of Commissioners in 1998. She currently serves as the chair of the Board of Commissioners. Prior to becoming a county commissioner, she served for 12 years as a member of the Catawba County Board of Education.

The outstanding county commissioner award has been presented annually since 1964. It was renamed the M.H. “Jack” Brock Award in honor of Brock, a former Harnett County commissioner who served as NCACC president in 1973-74 and won the award in 1981.

The award is presented each year at the NCACC Annual Conference to recognize a commissioner for outstanding work on behalf of every North Carolina county.