Robinson elected to national leadership position

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Phillips County, Mont. Commission Chair Lesley Robinson was elected as the Western Region Representative on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Executive Committee during NACo's 80th Annual Conference, July 10-13, in Mecklenburg County, N.C.

NACo's Executive Committee includes eight elected county leaders – four officers (president, first vice president, second vice president and immediate past president) and four regional representatives – who guide the association to meet the needs of its members.

Robinson will represent counties in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

On behalf of their regions, regional representatives provide substantive input to NACo's president and the other officers. They also help to keep counties within their regions informed of association activities. Being a regional representative automatically places Robinson on the NACo Board of Directors.

"I am honored to represent the west on NACo's Executive Committee," Robinson said. "I look forward to helping NACo move forward on priorities in the west like responsible natural resources management, long-term funding for the Payments in the Lieu of Taxes and Secure Rural Schools programs, endangered species legislation, wildfire prevention and emergency response."

Robinson added, "NACo is a strong voice for counties at the national level and I want to help assure that western counties voices are heard by decision makers. I believe decisions should be made from the bottom up, not top down on issues such as Wilderness and National Monument designations. My passion for our western way of life and willingness to strive to protect our western values will make me a strong Western Region Representative.

Active in NACo since 2007, Robinson is the immediate past president of the Western Interstate Region, a regional affiliate of NACo. She serves as vice chair of NACo's Public Lands Steering Committee.

Robinson is active locally in the Bear Paw Development Corporation, Phillco Economic Council, Phillips Transit Authority and the Joint Powers Trust, Montana Stockgrowers Association and was appointed to the Montana Board of Dentistry by former Governor Judy Martz.