Extension offers training to new county supervisors

by MBJ Staff

Published: January 6,2012

Tags: boards of supervisors, colleges, county government, education, elections, higher education, Politics, supervisors, training, universities

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University Extension Service’s Center for Governmental Training and Technology recently gave newly elected county supervisors some of the tools they needed to begin work in the new year.

New supervisors from across the state participated in a training session designed to teach them about basic laws and ethical issues that supervisors face on a daily basis.

“This orientation program helped expose newly elected supervisors to both the legal and financial responsibilities of their office,” said Sumner Davis, interim leader of the center. “In addition to preparing them for the challenges of the office, the program allowed them to interact with officials from various state agencies and other counties. These interactions expose participants to the current best practices and emerging theories of local government service delivery within the state.”

Davis said the turnover statewide for supervisors was roughly 29 percent, which is consistent with the last two election cycles.

Most newly elected supervisors have not served in any type of government office and need the introduction this orientation provides.

“I beat a 20-year incumbent,” said Harvey Lee of DeSoto County. “I am brand new at this. The training here is going to help a lot.”

Josh Meredith of Tate County said he has been around county government all his life and has worked for the county road department for 15 years, but serving as supervisor will be a new experience.

“We’re here to learn some basic laws and guidelines,” he said. “We don’t want to do anything wrong.”

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