NACo’s chief takes counties nationwide
Educating presidential candidates is her top goal.
In August, Colleen Landkamer, County Commissioner for Blue Earth County, Minn., will be named president of the Washington-based National Association of Counties (NACo) at its annual conference. Since 1988, Landkamer has served as county commissioner for Blue Earth County. She is the first woman to be elected to the position and has worked to bring issues facing rural communities to the attention of the federal government. Landkamer also has chaired NACo’s Rural Action Caucus. American City & County talked with Landkamer about the major issues facing rural counties, her plans for the upcoming year and the distinctive qualities of county government.
Q: What are some of the major issues facing counties, particularly those in rural areas?
A: The issues are the same [but] the solutions may be a bit different depending on the community [and] the size. Budgets are such a challenge for counties. We’re seeing cuts at the federal level and the state level as we try to provide services in the most cost-efficient way. And, how you get the community engaged is always a challenge. The trust level that you have to have in order to sometimes strike out on a new and innovative plan and getting people to support you because they trust you is really important.
Q: Do counties face unique challenges when planning for disasters or other emergency responses?
A: Over the past two years, there’s been about a $1.1 billion reduction in homeland security grants, and it undermines local governments’ ability to protect our citizens. Counties are always planning, and sometimes we learn from things that didn’t go well.
Q: As the first woman to serve as a commissioner in Blue Earth County, how has that experience shaped your leadership style and involvement in local government?
A: When I was elected, we had three new commissioners on a five-member board. [At my first] Association of Minnesota Counties regional meeting, this gentleman [says] “So, you’re a county commissioner. Well, I don’t think women should be county commissioners, and don’t screw up or you’ll never see another one.” That’s [shaped] my leadership style to a certain extent. There are some things that aren’t worth fighting about, but there are a lot of things that are. I wasn’t going to change his mind by arguing with him. You move on to things that you can make a difference in and things that impact your citizens.
Q: What projects do you have planned for the upcoming year?
A: We’re doing this presidential election project next year. It’s trying to get county issues in the forefront of the presidential candidates so they think about it, so they talk about it and they talk about issues that are important to citizens. Too frequently [those issues] get lost. It’s going to be one of our main projects next year.
Q: How has representing Blue Earth County shaped your goals for NACo? Are there any unique issues that you are bringing to the organization?
A: My wonderful opportunity in representing Blue Earth County and then going to NACo allows me to have issues that are important in Blue Earth County talked about across this nation. I can be a real spokesperson for issues that are important to my citizens. This is what I talk about a lot — the importance of the connections between rural, urban and suburban. How do we find some of the solutions that are different in rural, urban or suburban [and] how do we work together so that we’re all stronger? Those connections, those bridges, to me are critical as we move this nation forward.
