FAC Appoints Commissioner Jeff Koons Co-Chair of Finance, Transportation & Administration Policy Committee

For Immediate Release: Date: August 22, 2008
Contact: Cragin Mosteller, (850) 294-9307 cmosteller@fl-counties.com

LEON COUNTY – President of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and Suwannee County Commissioner Randy Hatch has announced that Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons and Santa Rosa County Commissioner Gordon Goodin will serve as co-chairs of FAC’s Finance, Transportation and Administration Policy Committee. FAC is committed to preserving home rule authority for local communities by restoring the partnership between counties and the Florida Legislature.

“Commissioner Koons is dedicated to Palm Beach County and to ensuring that counties can continue to protect finance and transportation issues in the best interest of the state of Florida,” said President Hatch. “FAC is committed to working with the Legislature to restore a strong partnership to better serve the people of Florida.”

Each year FAC represents Florida’s 67 counties, focusing our legislative efforts in preserving ‘home rule’.  Home rule is the ability of local governments to set or remove regulations to better serve the unique environment of their county and citizens. What may work for a large urban county does not necessarily work for a small rural county, and each county should have the authority to make this imperative unique decision.

“Having served as an elected official both in municipal and county government, I have gained insight into the intergovernmental coordination process and the need – especially in these difficult economic times – for each governing entity to guide its own destiny with the cooperation and assistance of county partners throughout the state,” said Commissioner Koons.

Commissioner Koons’ history and commitment to finance and transportation issues qualify him to lead FAC in determining statewide policy that carefully balances the home rule authority and the interests of the state. The mission of the FAC is “to preserve and promote democratic principles by working to keep appropriate authority at the level of government closest to the people, and to increase the capacity of Florida counties to effectively serve and represent the citizens of the state through legislative action, education of public officials, and enhancement of public awareness about the role and functions of county government."

Founded in 1929, the Florida Association of Counties is a nonprofit association representing the diverse interests of Florida’s 67 counties. Created in 1998, the Florida Association of Counties County Commissioners Voluntary Certification Program has trained 196 county commissioners on the complexities of county government and public life.