An eventful and blessed two years

When you become an elected official, you know that at some point, your term in office will end. If we are blessed, we get to end it on our own terms. Sometimes, the voters say otherwise.

As I look back on my two years serving as NCACC president and president elect, blessed is the word that keeps coming to mind.

I am blessed to have served for such a wonderful organization and to have represented the 100 counties in our great state. The NCACC is the only organization that can truly say it represents all the citizens of North Carolina, and our wonderfully diverse membership reflects that.

Decisions that we make impact the lives of all North Carolinians, and we are all truly blessed to have such an outstanding staff to provide day-to-day operational guidance for the Association and for all 100 counties.

I am blessed to have served at such a historic time in our existence. During my four years on the Executive Committee, this Association celebrated its 100th anniversary with a wonderful Annual Conference in Craven County. Who can forget the image of the great grandchild of our founding father, C.E. Foy of Craven County, carrying in the Craven County flag during the opening ceremony?

We also convinced the Legislature to relieve counties of the Medicaid burden, a decision that ended a decades-long battle. It will pay positive dividends for counties – and county citizens – for years to come.

I am blessed to have served the past year on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors. Had I not served as an officer with this Association, I would not have been appointed by Valerie Brown, now NACo's immediate past president. Serving on the NACo board afforded me the opportunity to travel across the country and meet county officials from every state and learn about the issues and difficulties they are facing and their ideas for remedying those problems.

I am blessed mostly because of the hundreds of county commissioners from across North Carolina that I have met and worked with since I first became involved with this Association. I have learned something from each of them along the way.

Malcolm Forbes once said, "Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." I want to thank each of you for educating me and helping to open my mind during my tenure as an NCACC officer. Serving as NCACC president has truly been a blessing for me and for my family. The NCACC has become a special part of my extended family, and yes, because of that, I am indeed blessed! May God's grace and peace forever be with the NCACC!