Newly Elected County Officials Information
Contents
- Introduction
- County Government Organization
- Effective Communication and Citizen Involvement
- Elections
- Ethics - Sample Codes
- Leadership/Teamwork
- Legal Issues
- Legislative Process/Policy-Making
- Governance Issues
- Organizations Serving County Officials
- MRSC Publications
- Resources
Introduction
Congratulations! You have been elected to one of the offices in county government. This web page is designed to provide information that will help you understand your role in office and perform your duties more effectively. The first part of the page contains a brief overview of county government history and organization. Then, since one of the most difficult and important challenges you will face is connecting with the citizens in your jurisdiction, a section is included on effective communication. This section focuses on informing and involving citizens in governmental functions. There are a number of legal doctrines that apply to you in your role as a county elective official and a few of the more important ones are reviewed under "Legal Issues." The role of legislator or policy-maker will be significant, particularly for county commissioners or councilmembers. A section on the legislative process focuses on roles and responsibilities, effective public participation, and procedures for adopting legislation. Finally, information on additional resources and organizations serving county officials is provided, including selected MRSC publications and MRSC library materials.
County Government Organization
Effective Communication and Citizen Involvement
- Effective Approaches for Getting the Word Out to Citizens
- Focus on Feedback (Is Anyone Listening?)
- Involving Citizens in Community Improvement
- Communicating about Government Spending (What We Get for Our Dollar)
- Communicating about Government Services (What's in it for You?)
- Comprehensive Citizen Involvement/Public Relations Programs
- National/State Opinion Polls about Government Performance
Elections
- Campaign Finance Disclosure - Washington Public Disclosure Commission
- "Elections, Salaries, and Oaths, Oh My!" MRSC Focus, June 2001
(View this publication
in HTML on the Web or View/Download
this publication in Adobe Acrobat (
76
kb) - Statutory Limits on the Use of Public Funds/Facilities to Assist or Oppose Campaigns Involving Ballot Measures or Initiatives - Attorney General Memorandum, September 13, 2001
- Use of Public Facilities to Support or Oppose Ballot Propositions
Ethics - Sample Codes
- Clallam County Code, Ch. 3.01 - Ethics
- King County Code, Ch. 3.04 - Employee Code of Ethics
- Snohomish County, Ch. 2.50 - Code of Ethics
- Spokane County, Ch. 42 - Code of Ethics
Leadership/Teamwork
Legal Issues
- The Appearance of Fairness Doctrine
- Conflicts of Interest
- Open Public Meetings Act
- Public Hearings: When and How to Hold Them
- Public Law Ethics Primer
- Public Records Disclosure
- Sale of Surplus County Property
- Sexual Harassment
Legislative Process/Policy-Making
- Introduction
- Making Policy is Job #1 for Legislators
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Is it Policy or Administration?
- The Policy-Making Process
- Effective Public Participation and Communication
- Legislative Process - Reading List
- Agendas
- Forms of Official Action
- Parliamentary Procedure
- Open Public Meetings Act
- Public Hearings: When and How to Hold Them
- Robert's Rules Web Site
Governance Issues
- Local Government in Washington - An Overview
- Performance Measurement
- Roles of Elected Officials
- Special Purpose Districts
- Trust in Government
Organizations Serving County Officials
- Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC)
- Washington Association of County Officials (WACO)
- Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC)
- National Association of Counties (NACo)
MRSC Publications
- The Appearance of Fairness Doctrine in Washington State
- Budget Suggestions for 2005
- Contracting for Professional Services in Washington State
- The County Bidding Book
- Governments are from Saturn... Citizens are from Jupiter Strategies for Reconnecting Citizens and Government
- Knowing the Territory - Basic Legal Guidelines for Washington City and County Officials
- Local Ordinances for Washington Cities and Counties
- Use of Hearing Examiners by Cities and Counties in Washington
- New Commissioner Handbook
- Nuisance Regulation for Washington Cities and Counties
- Open Public Meetings Act
- A Revenue Guide for Washington Counties
Resources
- Selected MRSC Library Materials for Newly Elected Officials [Note: Clicking on this link will take you to a list of documents available on loan through the MRSC library.]