Orientation for Newly Elected Officials

SCAC hosted the Orientation for Newly Elected Council Members on Thursday, December 8, from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM in Columbia. This orientation is free of charge to those who have recently been elected to serve on county council and is designed to provide an overview of the roles and responsibilities of county officials and the association’s programs and services. Topics also included the state ethics act, the Freedom of Information Act, and county risk management and liabilities. Participants who completed the day-long orientation receive six credit hours toward their Level I certification in the Institute of Government for County Officials.

Agenda

Presentations

Role of Council & Council Members
Anna B. Berger, Senior Director of Operations, S.C. Association of Counties

Powers & Forms of County Government
Joshua C. Rhodes, Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel, S.C. Association of Counties

Budget Basics & Funding Sources
Daniel T. Prentice, Chief Financial Officer, Dorchester County

Overview of the State Ethics, Government Accountability & Campaign Reform Act
Ryanne Caldwell, Chief Investigator, S.C. State Ethics Commission

Overview of the Freedom of Information Act
M. Kent Lesesne, Director of Governmental Affairs, S.C. Association of Counties

Fundamentals of Rules of Procedure
John K. DeLoache, Senior Staff Attorney, S.C. Association of Counties

Insurance & Risk Management Services for Counties
Robert E. Benfield, ARM, AINS, Director of Insurance Services, S.C. Association of Counties
Van Henson, Director of Risk Management, S.C. Association of Counties

Overview of Local Economic Development Tools
Peggy McLean, Director of Integrated Rural Strategies, S.C. Department of Commerce

Publications