Let it go to your head

It’s tempting for elected officials to think we have all the answers. After all, that’s why the citizens voted us into office, right?

But most elected officials at the local, state and federal levels understand that there are vast differences between campaigning and governing. Being in office requires constant education. We must be able to grasp what are often complex issues and then make policy decisions based on our understanding of the subject.

When the Association conducted its long-range strategic planning and visioning project a few years ago, county commissioners around the state recognized the need to become better educated about the roles and responsibilities of being a county commissioner. Numerous officials cited a desire for advanced training and education to help them better serve their counties.

As a result, the Association and the North Carolina League of Municipalities have teamed up with the School of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill to create LELA – the Local Elected Leaders Academy.

This joint effort will begin in early 2008 with an extensive curriculum developed especially by staff at the School of Government to supplement and build on the curriculum of the Essentials of County Government and Essentials of Municipal Government schools.

LELA was developed with three specific goals: (1) to enhance the capacity of elected officials to lead and govern their boards, councils and communities; (2) to equip elected officials with the knowledge and tools to practice and preserve representative government; and (3) to prepare elected officials to assume future leadership responsibilities within their communities, associations and throughout the state.

I know that county commissioners take their jobs seriously and are committed to learning as much as they can about the issues that are facing counties. LELA is the next step toward helping us become stronger and more effective leaders in our communities.