Boone County News Release

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Boone County Elected Officials Appointed to National Association of Counties (NACo) Steering Committees and Boards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (July 25, 2024) –Boone County Government is pleased to announce the appointment of two Boone County Government elected officials to national positions of impact and leadership by the National Association of Counties (NACo). NACo President James Gore announced policy steering committee and board appointments for one-year terms at the NACo Annual Conference in Tampa, Fla., on July 15, 2024.

District II Commissioner Janet Thompson will serve as Chair of the Healthy Counties Advisory Board. The Healthy Counties Advisory Board assists NACo in identifying the priorities and activities of the Healthy Counties Initiative and provides input and expertise on program implementation. NACo’s Healthy Counties Initiative creates and sustains healthy counties by supporting collaboration and sharing evidence-informed approaches to pressing health issues. The initiative is centered on supporting and elevating best practices and county innovations in public health. By addressing key public health issues, Healthy Counties empowers county leaders with resources for promoting and advancing health policies and programs that meet the needs of their communities.

Thompson was also appointed as Vice Chair of the Justice & Public Safety Steering Committee, a committee in which she has held leadership roles for several years. This committee has jurisdiction over the organization’s policies on all matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, emergency management, fire prevention and control, and civil disturbances.

County Clerk Brianna Lennon will serve as Vice Chair of the Elections Subcommittee of the Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee. The subcommittee assists NACo in identifying and prioritizing federal legislation related to elections administration, including protections for election workers and federal funding for local election offices.  

NACo’s 10 policy steering committees cover the full array of domestic policy issues impacting county governments and our local communities. These committees meet at least twice each year to review and make recommendations on public policy issues and legislation. The policy development process initiated by the steering committees is the foundation for the American County Platform, which drives NACo's advocacy work.

The National Association of Counties, (NACo), founded in 1935, is dedicated to strengthening America’s counties by harnessing the collective innovations, knowledge, and responsibilities of county officials, ultimately helping people and places to thrive across America. NACo serves nearly 38,000 county elected officials and a county government workforce of 3.6 million public servants across America’s 3,069 counties. Through NACo, counties unite to advocate for county priorities in federal policymaking, promote exemplary county policies and practices, nurture leadership skills and expand knowledge networks, optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings, and enrich the public’s understanding of county government. 

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