Lake County Gazette

Several Lake County Board Members recently attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The event was an opportunity for county leaders to engage in policy discussions and promote county priorities on a national level.

Lake County Board Vice-Chair Mary Ross-Cunningham, along with Board Members Marah Altenberg, Jennifer Clark, Sara Knizhnik, Angelo Kyle, Paras Parekh, and Gina Roberts, joined thousands of other county leaders from across the United States. They participated in discussions and adopted resolutions that will guide NACo's federal advocacy efforts over the next year.

"NACo brings counties from across the country together to share ideas, elevate local issues and drive change at the federal level," said Sandy Hart, Lake County Board Chair. "Speaking with one voice helps ensure that the needs of our communities are clearly heard in national discussions."

Lake County sponsored several resolutions that were adopted at the conference. These resolutions will now be part of NACo's lobbying efforts with Congress and federal agencies.

"I’ve been attending the NACo conference for many years, and it’s always been an important way to bring our local concerns to the national stage,” said Vice-Chair Mary Ross-Cunningham. “This year, I urged support for community-based programs that prevent gun violence because public safety starts at home, and we need strong federal partnerships to make lasting change.”

“These resolutions address urgent infrastructure and technology challenges that affect not only Lake County but communities across the country,” said Jennifer Clark, Lake County District 15 Board Member. “From railway safety to broadband access, these aren’t just technical issues; they’re critical to how people live, work and connect every day.”

Board Member Angelo Kyle was recognized alongside 24 other former NACo presidents as part of NACo's 90th anniversary. Kyle served as NACo president from 2004 to 2005.

Additionally, Lake County received two achievement awards at the conference. The first award honored their efforts to protect local and migratory bird populations. The second award celebrated their initiative to plant 4,000 native trees countywide as part of environmental preservation efforts outlined in the County's Strategic Plan.

Board members and county staff also attended various sessions on topics such as artificial intelligence, public safety, and environmental sustainability. The insights gained will be shared with Lake County government teams for further evaluation.

Alex Carr

Deputy Communications Officer