MACo Director Michael Sanderson was elected this week to Chair the Council of Southern County Associations, a regional group including the county associations across 15 southern states.

Mr. Sanderson assumed his leadership role on April 22, and will serve two years as Chair of the organization. The Council includes and serves the state associations representing county governments in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The Council typically fosters exchange of best management practices by state associations, and promotes member education and development. An annual peer-to-peer review of legislative trends and outcomes has been a staple of the group’s recent in-person conferences. Both the 2020 and 2021 events were held virtually, due to pandemic concerns, but the membership is engaging active plans to renew its in-person schedule in 2022.

Jennifer Piercy, Executive Director of the County Commissioners’ Association of West Virginia, was elected to serve as the group’s Vice Chair for the same two year term.

Mr. Sanderson has served as MACo’s Executive Director since 2009, and has worked with the Association since 1994.