Wayne County’s Commissioner Melissa Daub joins colleagues at 2023 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference to analyze key state issues
Melissa Daub (D-Canton) joined more than 200 other county commissioners and county leaders from across Michigan April 24–26 to hear from state leaders and policymakers at the 2023 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference.
Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) Board President Stan Ponstein of Kent County urged attendees to build closer relationships with state leaders during his welcome address on Tuesday, April 25.
During the event, the first of two major conferences during MAC’s 125th Anniversary year, commissioners also:
· Heard from a special panel of state legislative leaders headlined by House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Wayne), Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Kent), Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Van Buren) and House Minority Floor Leader Bryan Posthumus (R-Kent);
· Heard keynote presentations from State Budget Director Chris Harkins and Matthew Chase, CEO of the National Association of Counties;
· Attended some of the 12 policy breakouts available on issues ranging from the future of Michigan’s inland dams to the problem of human trafficking;
· Helped honor the Michigan Association of Counties’ 2023 County Advocate Award winners, Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) and Sen. Jon Bumstead (R-Muskegon), at a Legislative Reception where attendees mingled with state lawmakers; and
· Elected five new members to the MAC Board of Directors — Commissioner Bryan Kolk of Newaygo, Commissioner Rick Shaffer of St. Joseph, Commissioner Dwight Washington of Clinton, Commissioner Sarah Lucido of Macomb and Commissioner Donald O’Farrell of Iosco.
“I am deeply honored to have been elected to serve as the Second Vice President of the Michigan Association of Counties Board of Directors,” said Daub. “It is a privilege to work alongside the President Stan Ponstein, Vice President Jim Storey, and MAC staff, and I look forward to collaborating with them to advance our shared legislative policy priorities.”
Elected county commissioners from 53 of Michigan’s 83 counties traveled to Lansing for the policy and networking sessions in downtown Lansing.
“As the responsibilities of county government continue to multiply, it is ever more important that we are able to assemble for these briefings and presentations,” said Stephan W. Currie, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties, which holds the event, in association with the Michigan County Medical Care Facilities Council. “These are challenging times and I think conference attendees left with a great deal of knowledge that will help them lead their communities in the months ahead.”
For more information on the Michigan Association of Counties, visit www.micounties.org.
