Georgia-2009-HR1244-Introduced

WHEREAS, Jerry R. Griffin has long been recognized as a dedicated and enthusiastic leader who has made it his personal mission to sustain and enhance the role, stature, responsiveness, and professionalism of local government in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, as executive director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), he has provided strong and enlightened leadership on critical issues facing the state and its citizens and has advocated the responsible, efficient, and cost-effective provision of public services at the local level; and

WHEREAS, his career with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia spanned 24 years during which time he managed and oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Association, and, during that time, he moved ACCG from an organization focused primarily on advocating county interests before the General Assembly to an organization providing a variety of services to counties including certified training and leadership development programs for county officials, comprehensive research and public policy development, promoting county-city cooperation, fostering civic engagement, and promoting youth leadership programs; and

WHEREAS, under his leadership, ACCG also established cost effective services for counties including group workers compensation insurance, group property and casualty insurance, group health benefits insurance, risk management services for counties, group purchasing programs, financing alternatives for county facilities and other capital assets, and pension and retirement programs and services for local government employees; and

WHEREAS, this native son of Spalding County has earned the respect of citizens and leaders at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels of government for his deep understanding of the substantive aspects of state and local government, and for bringing unmatched expertise to this body and to the management of Georgia's 159 county governments; and

WHEREAS, during his over 40-year career in state and local government he has served on a multitude of boards, councils, commissions, and committees including the Advisory Council of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environment, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government Advisory Committee, the Georgia State University College of Public Administration Advisory Committee, the Conference of Southern County Associations, the National Conference of County Association Executives, the Local Government Advisory Committee to the EPA Administrator, the board of the Georgia Cities Foundation, the Livable Communities Coalition, the Georgia Supreme Court Blue Ribbon Indigent Defense Study Commission, the Georgia Indigent Defense Council, and the Metro Chamber Quality Growth Task Force, among others; and

WHEREAS, he was the first full-time executive director of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority and previously served as a valued assistant to the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and as intergovernmental relations director for the Georgia Municipal Association; and

WHEREAS, he was recognized by the Blue Key Society of the University of Georgia with the Blue Key Award in 2009 for civic contributions to the state and to the University of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, his vision, leadership talents, and commitment to the careful consideration of complex and sensitive public issues has earned him a reputation for honesty, dignity, and fair play; and

WHEREAS, the members of this body, and in particular those who worked closely with him on so many local government matters, recognize that his consistently thoughtful and thorough consideration of issues, along with his integrity and reliability, rightfully earned the respect and trust of this body; and

WHEREAS, he has announced his retirement from the Association County Commissioners of Georgia effective April 30, 2010, and it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this remarkable and distinguished Georgian be recognized appropriately.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend Jerry R. Griffin for the more than four decades of effective, unselfish, and dedicated service he has rendered on behalf of the counties and citizens of Georgia; extend to him their utmost appreciation for his having so truly defined for others the meaning of public service; congratulate him upon the grand occasion of his retirement; and offer to him their most sincere best wishes for continued health and happiness.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Jerry R. Griffin.