NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES n WASHINGTON, D.C. VOL. 42, NO. 21 n November 15, 2010 County officials fare well in Voters side with national, statewide elections counties By Charlie Ban in several STAFF WRITER Candidates with county gov- initiatives ernment service on their resumes scored four seats in the U.S. House By Charlie Ban and victory in the country’s highest- STAFF WRITER profile U.S. Senate race. They also won two governors’ A total 150 ballot measures faced races and five statewide offices. voters in 35 states this Election Day. New Castle County, Del. California voters passed a pair Executive Chris Coons saw his of ballot initiatives that will protect candidacy change overnight when county budgets on the surface, but Christine O’Donnell won the it may take some time for things Republican primary. Her surprise to settle. victory over veteran Congressman Proposition 22, the Local Tax- and former Delaware Gov. Mike payer, Public Safety and Transporta- Castle brought the race into the tion Protection Act, stops the state media’s consciousness and gave from snatching local funds for its Coons an opponent without transportation, redevelopment Castle’s significant experience and local government projects and and cachet. Photo courtesy of the News Journal services. Proposition 26 requires The victory was overwhelm- a two-thirds vote to pass fees and New Castle County, Del. Executive Chris Coons addresses supporters on Election Day after winning a U.S. ing. Coons’ votes in New Castle Senate seat as his wife and children look on. levies. County alone — the largest of the Jean Hurst, lobbyist for the Cali- state’s three counties — surpassed fornia State Association of Coun- O’Donnell’s for the entire state. ties, said the effects of propositions Coons was an active NACo Whitley announces veterans theme for 22 and 26 will remain to be seen for member. He served as chair of some time, and a lot of vagueness the 2008 Presidential Election National County Government Month 2011 in Proposition 26 may cause years Committee and over the years as a member of the Environment, NACo President Glen Whitley is Serving Our Veterans, Armed have and the programs and services See REFERENDA page 3 issued the following statement to Forces and Their Families. counties provide. See ELECTIONS page 12 counties on Veterans Day regarding “Since 1991, NACo has encour- “Counties are encouraged to the April 2011 celebration of Na- aged counties to actively promote link this year’s theme — Serving INSIDE >> tional County Government Month: county government services and Our Veterans, Armed Forces and CountyNews “I am pleased to announce on programs. Formerly National Their Families — to as many Na- this Veterans Day that the April County Government Week, the tional County Government Month Features 2011 theme for National County designation was expanded to a activities as possible. Popular events Model Programs Government Month (NCGM) full month to offer counties more include holding public tours of opportunities to participate. Coun- county facilities; talking to students, News From the Nation’s QuickTakes ties aren’t expected to hold public community organizations and busi- Counties awareness activities throughout the ness leaders about county programs month, but can schedule activities and services; holding essay and art MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ to speak at Counties NACo’s 2011 Legislative Conference, any time during the month. contests; and sponsoring County NACo on the Move March 7 » Page 2 with ThanksgivingThanksgiving “As county officials, we know Family Day events on the Court- Research News Towns that America’s counties provide house grounds. You can hold media Changing driving behavior saves Cranberry, N.C. (Avery County) essential programs and services to events, write newspaper columns, Florida county big bucks on fuel The H.R. Doctor Is in consumption » Page 4 Pie, W. Va. (Mingo County) communities, but unfortunately or be a guest on local radio and Pilgrim, Ky. (Martin County) many Americans do not. National TV shows to discuss new county What’s in a Seal? County Government Month in programs or highlight existing ones. Have a question? Want to know who Pumpkin, Ga. (Paulding County) to call at NACo? Check out the Staff conjunction with my County “This year’s National County In Case You Missed It Pumpkintown, Tenn. (Macon County) Directory » Page 7–9 Thanksgiving, Md. (Talbot County) Government Works presidential Government Month theme is im- Financial Services News Turkey, Ark. (Marion County) initiative are terrific opportunities to portant and timely as more veterans, GIS data can spark better planning educate the public and our partners military service members and their for counties on the Digital Coast Source: Thanksgiving-related Places in state and federal government » Page 10 Job Market / Classifieds www.accuracyproject.org about the responsibilities counties See VETERANS page 3 2 November 15, 2010 CountyNews • Speakers’ lineup taking shape for Legislative conference MSNBC Morning Joe host, Joe Tuesday, March 9 Scarborough will headline the Luncheon Opening General Session of NA- Co’s 2011 Legislative Conference David Brown, Psy.D. in Washington, D.C. March 5–9 at Clinical Psychologist the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Director, Integrative Wellness for Scarborough leads a speakers’ the Defense Centers of Excellence lineup that also includes Nation- (DCoE) wide economist, Paul Ballew and Dr. Brown is a special operations military psychologist, Dr. David combat veteran and was a frequent Brown. Online registration for the guest on Armed Forces Networks conference opens Nov. 30 at www. television and radio in Japan, naco.org/legislativeconference. India and Germany for a range of Here’s more information about psychological topics. He completed the speakers. Joe Scarborough Paul Ballew David Brown his residency training at the Depart- ment of Psychiatry at Tripler Army March 7 Opening Session Medical Center and his postdoctoral questions as part of his unyielding released The Last Best Hope, where vast experience, prior to joining training in Mind Body Medicine Joe Scarborough pursuit to hold our leaders account- he takes on the Republican Party Nationwide, includes: executive di- from Harvard Medical School. MSNBC’s Morning Joe able. A signer of the Contract with establishment and lays out a way rector for global market and industry He is a graduate of Organiza- Former Congressman Joe America and member of the 1994 forward for both political parties. analysis at General Motors; senior tional Leadership for Executives Scarborough (R-Fla.), aka Morn- Republican takeover of the House advisor on industry conditions and from the U.S. Army Command ing Joe, will address attendees of Representatives, the former Tuesday, March 8 corporate strategies for J.D. Power and General Staff College. Prior to on Monday, March 7, during the Florida congressman has been on Morning General Session and Associates; and research officer joining DCoE, he was the lead psy- Opening Session of the 2011 NACo the front lines of political history and senior economist with the Fed- chologist for seven bases in Bavaria, Legislative Conference. MSNBC’s for over a decade. Scarborough talks Paul Ballew eral Reserve. Today he maintains with more than 41,000 troops and Morning Joe features interviews with audiences about the state of Senior Vice President his advisory role with the Federal their families dealing with a constant with top newsmakers and politi- the conservative movement, where Customer Insights and Analytics Reserve in addition to serving on cycle of deployments. cians, in-depth analysis of the day’s it has gone wrong and what leaders Nationwide Mutual Insurance a number of boards of nonprofit Dr. Brown will share his knowl- biggest stories and is described by in Washington need to do to curb Company organizations. edge on service member issues re- The New Yorker as “appallingly reckless spending. Paul Ballew, Nationwide’s chief He will provide his insight about lated to deployment and community entertaining.” Scarborough is the author of economist, directs the company’s the current economic climate and re-integration and the impact this Scarborough asks the tough two books including the recently forecasting and planning. Ballew’s what the future holds. has on county services. FCC-imposed ‘shot clock’ in the works President | Glen Whitley Publisher | Larry Naake By Jeff arnold appeal of the FCC ruling in a case local review of personal wireless Notice on Dec. 23, 2009, asking Public Affairs Director | Tom Goodman DEPUTY LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR filed by the city of Arlington, Texas facility siting applications. CTIA for comments in response to the Executive Editor | Beverly Anne Schlotterbeck and others. sought clarification of provisions petition on or before Jan. 22, 2010 Senior Staff Writer | Charles Taylor Staff Writer | Charlie Ban The FCC is seeking to impose in the Communications Act that and reply comments on or before Graphic Artist | Jack Hernandez a “shot clock” on counties limiting Background it contended were ambiguous and Feb. 8, 2010. The commission Editorial Assistant | Christopher Johnson the time allowed to approve wireless On July 11, 2008, CTIA–The had been interpreted in a manner received a total of 21 comments, ADVERTISING STAFF facility sitings — effectively forcing Wireless Association (CTIA), that allowed zoning authorities to oppositions and replies in response Job Market/Classifieds representative counties to review such requests filed a petition requesting that the impose unreasonable impediments to the petition. Christopher Johnson without regard for the public pro- FCC issue a ruling clarifying the to wireless facility siting and the On Jan. 12, 2010, the city of National Accounts representative cesses necessary to complete the provisions of the Communica- provision of wireless services. Arlington filed a petition for review Beverly Schlotterbeck (202) 393-6226 • FAX (202) 393-2630 process. NACo is intervening in an tions Act that provide for state and In November 2009, the FCC in the U.S.