Jim Palmer, Clint Hickman
Graham County Supervisor Jim Palmer, left, is honored for his year of service as president of the County Supervisors Association by incoming president and Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman.
PHOENIX — Completing a successful year of service, Graham County Supervisor Jim Palmer ended his tenure as president of the County Supervisors Association at the organization’s board of directors meeting Nov. 20, 2014.
“It was a great honor and privilege to serve as president of this important organization,” Palmer said. “I have a deep gratitude for the work of CSA and the significance of advocating on behalf of county priorities at the state Legislature.”
Incoming County Supervisors Association President and Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman credited Palmer with leading a strong coalition of counties dedicated to promoting efficient, responsive county government.
“Supervisor Palmer is a lifelong public servant and a dedicated leader. He leaves an outstanding legacy and a great foundation for the difficult work ahead of us in 2015,” Hickman said.
During his term as County Supervisors Association president, Palmer built a strong collaboration among county officials and state lawmakers to address important issues impacting county operations and constituent services. His leadership helped ensure county leaders had a voice in major policy items under consideration during the 2014 state legislative session. Palmer spearheaded the County Supervisors Association’s successful advocacy effort to restore $10 million of Highway User Revenue Funds to counties and securing rural counties a share of lottery revenues that had been swept by the state Legislature during the recent recession.
At the federal level, Palmer led the Arizona delegation of county officials as it participated in the development of the National Association of Counties policy agenda. He also worked diligently advocating for continued funding of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, known as PILT, which provides partial compensation for services counties must provide on federally owned public lands. His advocacy efforts were critical in demonstrating to the Arizona congressional delegation the vital importance of PILT to Arizona counties, which helped to secure a one-year extension of the program.
“Jim is an outstanding and respected public official, and I am deeply grateful for the hard work and leadership he brought to this association. And, because of the strategic direction he helped us develop, the organization is positioned to be successful in the future,” said Craig Sullivan, County Supervisors Association executive director.
County Supervisors Association is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and advocacy organization representing the 61 county supervisors leading Arizona’s 15 counties.
