The Florida Association of Counties (FAC) recently presented Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay with the Certified County Commissioner (CCC) designation following completion of a comprehensive study program developed by the association.
McKinlay received the designation with 10 other county commissioners during an awards ceremony held at the FAC’s annual conference.
“I am committed to being the best public servant I can be, so it was important to me to earn this designation,” McKinlay said.
CCC certification is not a requirement to serve as a county commissioner in Florida. However, county commissioners may voluntarily enroll in the program and complete a series of courses totaling 45 hours. The coursework is designed to provide information and enhance skills relevant to a commissioner’s duties and responsibilities as an elected official.
“This certification provides our citizen electorate with valuable tools to assist them in their public service,” FAC Executive Director Ginger Delegal said. “The more than 400 graduates of this program have shown an exceptional commitment to serving Florida’s counties.”
The program coursework covers a variety of topics, such as ethics and Sunshine Law, county government roles and responsibilities, county government structure and authority, financial management, negotiation skills, economic development and effective communication. Completion of all coursework averages 12 to 18 months.
For more than 85 years, the Florida Association of Counties has represented the diverse interests of Florida’s counties, emphasizing the importance of protecting home rule — the concept that government closest to the people governs best.
