Dr. Nick Place, Dean & Director of UF (left); Commissioner Pat Edwards (middle); and Janet Taylor, Commissioner from Hendry County (right) The Florida Association of Counties (FAC) presented Nassau County Commissioner Pat Edwards with the Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) designation following his completion of a comprehensive study program developed by the association. Commissioner Edwards received the designation along with 25 other county commissioners during an awards ceremony held at the FAC Annual Conference in St. Johns County, FL.
Upon completing the Advanced County Commissioner Program, Pat Edwards stated, “I highly recommend the Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) program to any Commissioner who wants to gain a better understanding on ethics, the Sunshine Law, and how to provide their citizens with the services they desire while keep taxes low. This program has also provided me with superior leadership skills and has given me the knowledge I need to effectively represent my district, as well as Nassau County”.
Launched by FAC in 2006, the Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) education program, "The Florida Forum for County Leaders," is an advanced leadership program designed for graduates of the Certified County Commissioners (CCC) program. This year, the program has been held in Alachua County and saw 26 commissioners graduate in June with a total of 171 graduating since the inception of the program in 2006.
“This certification allows our citizen electorate to become experts in county government improving their communities,” said FAC Executive Director Chris Holley. “Through FAC’s education programs we are able to teach commissioners how to advance their policies through the complexities of government bureaucracies.”
The ACC program is organized as a series of three seminars, with 27 hours of course work. The course content focuses on leading within Florida’s counties. Participating Commissioners must commit to fully participate in all three seminars in order to graduate. Seminars include: Tough Policy Choices in Florida During Tumultuous Times; Leading Your Communities During Turbulent Times; and, Understanding and Working with Stakeholders and County Decision Makers during these Turbulent Times. The University of Florida/IFAS Extension has sponsored this program for the last eight years in Alachua County.
Following are the names of the county commissioners who received their ACC designation in 2015: Earl Arnett, Marion County; James Brooks, Highlands County; Alan Bush, Washington County; Al Butler, Sumter County; John Dailey, Leon County; Ken Doherty, Charlotte County; Pat Edwards, Nassau County; John Haddox, Martin County; Don Hahnfeldt, Sumter County; John Hall, Polk County; Greg Harris, Highlands County; Diane Hutchings, Clay County; Rick Knight, Hardee County; Colon Lambert, Hardee County; George Lindsey, Polk County; Frank Meeker, Flagler County; John Meeks, Levy County; Bob Miller, DeSoto County; Walt Pellicer, Putnam County; Cecil Pendergrass, Lee County; Gabriel Quave, DeSoto County; Barbara Revels, Flagler County; Timothy Stanley, Glades County; Ralph Thomas, Wakulla County; Bill Truex, Charlotte County; and Tim Zorc, Indian River County.
For more information about the ACC program and courses, visit the FAC web site at www.fl-counties.com.
For over 80 years, the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) has represented the diverse interests of Florida’s counties, emphasizing the importance of protecting home rule – the concept that government closest to the people governs best. The Florida Association of Counties helps counties effectively serve and represent Floridians by strengthening and preserving county home rule through advocacy, education and collaboration.
Upon completing the Advanced County Commissioner Program, Pat Edwards stated, “I highly recommend the Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) program to any Commissioner who wants to gain a better understanding on ethics, the Sunshine Law, and how to provide their citizens with the services they desire while keep taxes low. This program has also provided me with superior leadership skills and has given me the knowledge I need to effectively represent my district, as well as Nassau County”.
Launched by FAC in 2006, the Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) education program, "The Florida Forum for County Leaders," is an advanced leadership program designed for graduates of the Certified County Commissioners (CCC) program. This year, the program has been held in Alachua County and saw 26 commissioners graduate in June with a total of 171 graduating since the inception of the program in 2006.
“This certification allows our citizen electorate to become experts in county government improving their communities,” said FAC Executive Director Chris Holley. “Through FAC’s education programs we are able to teach commissioners how to advance their policies through the complexities of government bureaucracies.”
The ACC program is organized as a series of three seminars, with 27 hours of course work. The course content focuses on leading within Florida’s counties. Participating Commissioners must commit to fully participate in all three seminars in order to graduate. Seminars include: Tough Policy Choices in Florida During Tumultuous Times; Leading Your Communities During Turbulent Times; and, Understanding and Working with Stakeholders and County Decision Makers during these Turbulent Times. The University of Florida/IFAS Extension has sponsored this program for the last eight years in Alachua County.
Following are the names of the county commissioners who received their ACC designation in 2015: Earl Arnett, Marion County; James Brooks, Highlands County; Alan Bush, Washington County; Al Butler, Sumter County; John Dailey, Leon County; Ken Doherty, Charlotte County; Pat Edwards, Nassau County; John Haddox, Martin County; Don Hahnfeldt, Sumter County; John Hall, Polk County; Greg Harris, Highlands County; Diane Hutchings, Clay County; Rick Knight, Hardee County; Colon Lambert, Hardee County; George Lindsey, Polk County; Frank Meeker, Flagler County; John Meeks, Levy County; Bob Miller, DeSoto County; Walt Pellicer, Putnam County; Cecil Pendergrass, Lee County; Gabriel Quave, DeSoto County; Barbara Revels, Flagler County; Timothy Stanley, Glades County; Ralph Thomas, Wakulla County; Bill Truex, Charlotte County; and Tim Zorc, Indian River County.
For more information about the ACC program and courses, visit the FAC web site at www.fl-counties.com.
For over 80 years, the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) has represented the diverse interests of Florida’s counties, emphasizing the importance of protecting home rule – the concept that government closest to the people governs best. The Florida Association of Counties helps counties effectively serve and represent Floridians by strengthening and preserving county home rule through advocacy, education and collaboration.
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