DeBone completes ‘County College’ program

Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone was among the 21 graduates of the 2013 County College program who received their certificates at the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Annual Conference last week in Lane County.

Commissioner DeBone is now one of 57 current county commissioners and county judges in Oregon to have completed the County College program. There are 120 elected county commissioners and county judges from Oregon’s 36 counties.

AOC, in partnership with the Oregon State University Extension Service, offers the County College program every other year following the general election. The program is primarily designed for newly elected county commissioners and county judges, but is open to sitting commissioners and judges and other county staff as space allows.

The program is a broad overview of county government responsibilities in Oregon. Everything from human resources to road repair to mental and public health, law enforcement and communication with constituents is covered. There are also sessions on legal responsibilities, public meetings and records and ethics rules. Experts from county government and outside government are brought in to teach the courses and offer their expertise and perspective.

Not only does it offer an opportunity to learn first-hand about the challenges and tremendous responsibility of county government, County College also offers an opportunity for elected commissioners and judges from across the state to get to know one another and learn more about the rest of the state.

Commissioner DeBone joins fellow Deschutes County commissioners Tammy Baney and Alan Unger as County College graduates.