85 minute read
THEY TWEETED IT
Speaker Pro Tempore Steve Yeager
@SteveYeagerNV • September 15 Go @sandra4nv, go. Proud of you! #NVLeg #20Under40 @CSGovts
Delegate Regina T. Boyce @reginatboyce • September 2 One week today I graduated from @CSGovts – East Robert J. Thompson Eastern Leadership Academy ���� I’m thankful for @SpeakerAJones nomination. Our group was given a wealth of information that helped redefine our integrity & provide a tangible reminder of why we do this work.
Representative Eddie Charbonier
@EddieCharbonier • Aug. 16 Participando vía Zoom de la Reunión del Comité Ejecutivo de @CSGovts junto al Senador @Carmelorios.
Rep. Rachel Prusak @Rachel_Prusak • September 29 Feeling inspired at #Medicaid Leadership Academy hosted by @CSGovts.
Glimpse of agenda: ✅
Lessons Learned in Long Term Care Addressing Maternal Mortality Vaccine Deployment A Mental Health Epidemic Post Pandemic Women In Government @WomenInGovt • July 27 Rep. Pike and @RuckerforWV, two members of WIG’s BOD, were recently at @CSGovts Southern Leadership Conference (SLC) in Nashville, TN! We can’t wait to see them, and many others, at our upcoming Healthcare & Technology Summit in D.C. this Oct. 1-3! Eventleaf.com/Attendee/Atten…
Assemblywoman Brittney Miller
@BrittMiller4AD5 • September 30 Representing with my fellow assemblywomen at @CSGWest @CSGovts
Achieving Greater Equity
ARP guidance requires states to consider equity in spending federal recovery funds
by Christina Gordley
The coronavirus pandemic exacerbated health disparities, with marked differences in health outcomes linked to social, economic or environmental disadvantages observed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act was designed, in part, to achieve greater equity. The American Rescue Plan was signed into law in March to support the short-term response to the pandemic and the long-term recovery of state and local governments. It provides $350 billion in new federal funding through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. There are relatively few restrictions on this money, though the ARP specifies funds must be utilized to:
1. Respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and negative impacts of the pandemic. 2. Provide premium pay for essential workers. 3. Offset government revenue losses calculated to be due to the pandemic. 4. Make necessary investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
defining equity
Executive Order 13985 issued in January specifically defines equity as:
(a) The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. (b) The term “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full
opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and
civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of
“equity.”
Further guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury provided the additional requirement that funds be used to address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed to the inequitable health and welfare impact of the pandemic on certain populations. This guidance incorporated President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 13985 that instituted a policy that the federal government pursue a comprehensive approach to advance equity for all individuals and populations and amend or eliminate policies and programs that may serve as barriers. Equity of outcomes, transparency and accountability in the implementation of recovery funds are key components of the American Rescue Plan and are reiterated in the reporting requirements. For example, the ARP includes a “maintenance of equity” requirement for education funding to ensure “resources are meeting the needs of students who have been subject to longstanding opportunity gaps in our education system.” The Department of Education has released guidance on the framework and reporting requirements for states to address inequity in education resource allocations and outcomes. On the other hand, there are no specific frameworks for achieving this goal or defined metrics for tracking progress in program areas that utilize state and local fiscal recovery funds. This gives states the opportunity to determine how best to attain equitable outcomes while being sensitive to unique local and regional needs. Being explicitly tasked to achieve more equitable outcomes requires states to use an “equity lens” to view relevant policy from a variety of angles. The Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center for Health Disparities Research at Morehouse School of Medicine offers a model of policy creation and implementation for achieving greater equity, with five specific steps for policymakers to utilize: 1. Identify the health equity issue and affected population. 2. Analyze the relevant policy impacts and opportunities for policy improvement. 3. Develop policy-relevant research strategies in partnership with community stakeholders. 4. Measure and evaluate policy outcomes and impacts on heath disparities. 5. Disseminate findings to relevant audiences and stakeholders, including policymakers, communities, public health officials and health care providers.
EXAMPLES IN THE STATES
Connecticut utilized $5.3 million of its State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund allocation to subsidize child care based on income for eligible families with children ages 3 and 4. The purpose is to provide economic relief and educational opportunity for children in low-to-moderate income households. It is designed to increase readiness for kindergarten and provide relief for parents to recover from COVID-19 loss of income or to re-enter the workforce.
Massachusetts has established a framework to examine the use of ARP funds in its Recovery Performance Plan Report, utilizing evidence-based measurements:
• Purpose – What is provided through the program? • Target Population – To which communities will the program’s support/funds go directly? • Equity Focus – Does the program specifically and intentionally focus on underserved populations? • Potential Evidence Base – What program outputs are measured? What is the program’s intended outcome, and is it measured? Oregon enacted House Bill 2949 to dedicate $80 million in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund dollars to the Oregon Health Authority to provide incentives and increase recruitment and retention of behavioral health providers for people of color, tribal members or rural area residents with the goal of providing culturally responsive behavioral health services to: • Tribal members
• People of color • Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth • Veterans
• People with disabilities • Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities • Individuals with limited English proficiency • Individuals working in correctional facilities • Other underserved communities
The equity and opportunity senior advisor to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has worked with state agencies to develop meaningful goals and outcomes to address inequities within the Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander and multiracial communities. The Multicultural Advisory Committee of Utah’s COVID-19 Response Advisory Committee provides a racially diverse cross-section of stakeholders to provide perspectives from lived experiences in planning for the pandemic response. An example of thoughtful and collaborative partnerships to address barriers, Utah has ended the first-come, first-served application process for grants and programs, acknowledging that not all potential applicants have the resources and staff to quickly complete arduous online applications. Limited federal guidance means opportunities to promote equitable outcomes using the American Rescue Plan Act are extensive. Policymakers can innovate and design policy to increase access, address systemic barriers to success and provide opportunities that include the whole population.
common language
CSG analysts reviewed the language in the performance recovery plans that states have submitted so far. Discover the commonalities uncovered in special expanded digital content available on CSG State Talk, csgovts.info/language.
Addressing the Opioid Crisis
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONSIDER HOW TO SPEND FUNDS FROM OPIOID LITIGATION SETTLEMENTS
by Joel Sams
By any metric, the numbers of the opioid crisis are staggering. Thirty-eight people die every day from overdoses involving prescription opioids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 500,000 people died from an opioid overdose between 1999 and 2019. Opioid use disorder and opioid overdose deaths cost the U.S. $1,021 billion in 2017. In late July, 13 states endorsed a deal that moves the states into another era of opioid crisis numbers: a proposed $26 billion settlement that is intended to resolve more than 3,000 lawsuits against drug manufacturers and distributors. While no amount of money adequately represents the value of lives lost and communities ravaged by substance abuse, settlement funds can provide states and localities with resources to address the crisis. As they craft spending plans, many of the states that have signed on to the settlements are seeking ways to ensure that funds will be spent on education, prevention and treatment.
THE SETTLEMENT SITUATION
In July 2021, a bipartisan group of attorneys general and local government lawyers from 13 states endorsed a multibillion-dollar settlement against major drug companies that would end open civil lawsuits stemming from opioid distribution. The agreement would require three drug distributors and one drugmaker to make $26 billion in payments to states and communities to provide additional rehabilitation and prevention services. Over the last several years, drug firms have faced a barrage of lawsuits for their alleged roles in encouraging the distribution and sale of opioids across the country at a time when drug addiction and opioid overdoses are on the rise. According to Reuters, the settlement is designed to resolve more than 3,000 of those lawsuits. States had a month from July 21 — when this agreement was first reached — to decide if they would accept the deal. On Sept. 4, Reuters reported that enough states had signed on for the settlement to
proceed to the next step: approval by cities and counties. Political subdivisions will have until Jan. 1, 2022 to decide whether to join the settlement. A significant portion of the payout — $10.7 billion — depends on local governments’ participation. Under the agreement, the three distributors — Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen and McKesson — would make $21 billion in payments over 18 years, while drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson would pay $5 billion over nine years. The exact amount of the payments to each state and city will be determined by the number of governments that sign on to the agreement and the population and impact of opioid addiction in each region. According to The New York Times, a novel feature of this agreement is a provision that distributors establish an independent clearinghouse to track one another’s shipments, a new mechanism to make data more transparent and make it easier to know when oversized orders are placed.
The CSG Justice Center has resources available to states that are looking for evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes for people with substance abuse disorders. The Justice Center also provides resources on best practices for successful reentry for people with opioid addictions and opioid addition screening and assessment for those in the criminal justice system. Learn more at: csgjusticecenter.org/topics/substance-abuse
EXCEPTIONS ARE THE RULE
Seven states have opted out of the settlement, either fully or partially. Alabama, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washington and West Virginia opted out, while New Hampshire joined only the distributors and Rhode Island agreed to settle only with Johnson & Johnson. Christine Minhee, a visiting scholar at University of Washington School of Law who studies opioid settlement litigation, said some attorneys general are opposed to the settlement because its formula calculates payouts based on population, which might underestimate the harm in less-populated states with high opioid impacts. Others object to the settlement on the grounds that the payout is simply not big enough, and consequently unfair to their constituents. That’s the approach being taken by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, whose office cited grim addiction statistics in a press release detailing his decision to opt out of the settlement. The state saw opioid prescriptions and sales increase more than 500% between 1997 and 2011, according to the statement. In 2011, enough opioid doses were dispensed each week to provide a 16-day supply for every man, woman and child in the state, and more than 8,000 Washingtonians died of opioid overdoses between 2006 and 2017. “The settlement is, to be blunt, not nearly good enough for Washington,” Ferguson said in the press release. “It stretches woefully insufficient funds into small payments over nearly 20 years, to be shared among more than 300 Washington jurisdictions. We are looking forward to walking into a Washington state courtroom to hold these companies accountable for their conduct. Washington families devastated by the opioid epidemic deserve their day in court. We intend to give it to them.” By the terms of the settlement, Washington could receive $417.9 million from the three drug distributors over 18 years and $109.6 million from Johnson & Johnson over nine years, equating to “payments of $50.2 million per year in years 1-3, $27.9 million per year in years 4-9, and $23.2 million per year in years 10-18 — to be split among all Washington jurisdictions.”
By going to trial, however, Washington could see a much higher payout. Citing just the example of Oklahoma, which won a landmark lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson in 2019, Ferguson’s office pointed out that the verdict in that case was $465 million — “more than four times what Johnson & Johnson would pay Washington and all its counties and cities under the proposed settlement.” Additionally, the payment would be due immediately rather than over the course nearly two decades. In addition to the $26 billion settlement announced in June, drugmaker Purdue Pharma announced a bankruptcy deal that would shield the company’s founders, the Sackler family, from further lawsuits. Valued between $5 and $10 billion, the settlement would require Purdue Pharma to declare bankruptcy, and the Sackler family would give up ownership of the company. However, the deal would not require the family to declare bankruptcy, would not require admission of wrongdoing, and according to Bloomberg Wealth, will leave their estimated $11 billion fortune largely intact. Most significantly, the settlement gives the family “‘global peace” from any liability for the opioid epidemic,” according to NPR. Some states, as well as the Department of Justice, have objected to the settlement.
NPR reports that individual payouts from the Purdue settlement would be small, with 90% of funds going to states. New York Attorney General Letitia James was an early critic of the settlement, according to NPR, but released a statement saying that states would nevertheless benefit from resources to address the opioid crisis. “No deal is perfect, and no amount of money will ever make up for the hundreds of thousands who lost their lives, the millions who became addicted, or the countless families torn apart by this crisis, but these funds will be used to prevent future death and destruction as a result of the opioid epidemic,” James said.
STATE SPENDING PLANS
In many states, according to CSG Policy Analyst Christina Gordley, settlement funds that are received without restrictions simply go into the general fund. Planning can ensure funds go to the intended areas. “States should think strategically about how they want these funds to be used and get that language in place before the funds are received in the state,” Gordley said. “States have an opportunity to use this time to have the conversations with stakeholders, perform studies to learn what works and determine the desired outcomes for their use of the settlement money. That’s something state leaders might want to look into — how will the settlement funds be received and used?”
About half of the states have opioid settlement spending plans in place, according to the Opioid Settlement Tracker (opioidsettlementtracker.com), the research program run by Minhee. The project is funded by a grant from the Soros Justice Fellowship, which is funded and administered by the Open Society Institute.
We’ve learned a lot about how the branches of government work when it comes to public health litigation. Unless state executive and legislative branches are at least getting along, disagreements between branches will open a chasm that will produce a lot of mismatched goals and poor spending decisions.”
There are guardrails in the $26 billion settlement, Minhee says, which propose a default allocation structure of 15% for the state, 15% for localities and the remaining 70% earmarked an abatement accounts fund that either the state or local government (both) can decide how to spend. States aren’t locked into this proposed structure, however. Minhee says they can choose one of three options to avoid the default allocation structure:
1. States can use special funds, usually created by legislative vote. Rather than going into general resources, any money received from opioid settlements would go directly into those dedicated funds. In many cases, advisory committees of public health and other experts will guide how special fund money should be spent. 2. Statewide allocation agreements serve as a contract between state governments and localities to govern how settlement money will be divided. In North Carolina, Minhee said, 80% of the funds will go to local government, 15% will be reserved for the state, and 5% will serve as an incentive for localities to sign on to the statewide allocation agreement. 3. The final option is an allocation statute. In this scenario, the state legislature expresses how it wants to deviate from the default allocation structure by legislation versus by contract. Minhee says one of the biggest lessons learned from the tobacco settlement should be the importance of interbranch cooperation. “We’ve learned a lot about how the branches of government work when it comes to public health litigation,” Minhee said. “Unless state executive and legislative branches are at least getting along, disagreements between branches will open a chasm that will produce a lot of mismatched goals and poor spending decisions.” While the settlement agreements aren’t perfect, Minhee believes they represent a good-faith effort to ensure that funds will be spent well and to help states avoid past public health settlement mistakes. “I see these agreements as responsive to our past national public health settlement failures,” Minhee said. “Is it perfect? No. […] But I do think the settlement agreement has a great amount of good things going for it.”
Principles to Guide Opioid Settlement Spending
A coalition of 31 health organizations, coordinated by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, released principles to inform state and local spending plans for opioid settlement funds. Excerpted below, the principles can be accessed in greater depth at opioidprinciples.jhsph.edu.
1. SPEND MONEY TO SAVE LIVES.
Given the economic downturn, many states and localities will be tempted to use the dollars to fill holes in their budgets rather than expand needed programs. Jurisdictions should use the funds to add to rather than replace existing spending.
2. USE EVIDENCE TO GUIDE SPENDING.
At this point in the overdose epidemic, researchers and clinicians have built a substantial body of evidence demonstrating what works and what does not. States and localities should use this information to make funding decisions.
3. INVEST IN YOUTH PREVENTION.
States and localities should support children, youth and families by making long-term investments in effective programs and strategies for community change.
4. FOCUS ON RACIAL EQUITY.
States and localities should direct significant funds to communities affected by years of discriminatory policies that now experience substantial increases in overdoses.
5. DEVELOP A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR DECIDING WHERE TO SPEND THE FUNDING.
This process should be guided by public health leaders with the active engagement of people and families with lived experience, clinicians, as well as other key groups.
CSG LAUNCHES SAFETY AWARENESS
ON PUBLIC TRANSIT PROJECT by Kaitlyn Bison
The Council of State Governments launched a new project on public transit safety with a focus on human trafficking. Funded by the Federal Transit Administration, the Safety Awareness on Public Transit project will center around a virtual learning seminar for transportation industry stakeholders. The project will discuss policy solutions and best practices for increasing awareness about safety issues and human trafficking. CSG will invite policymakers and transportation safety industry stakeholders to engage in a two-day virtual learning seminar. During this seminar, participants will share strategies for safety awareness in public transportation, including human trafficking. A report will follow the virtual convening, summarizing the topics discussed at the seminar. Throughout the project, a series of blogs and articles will raise awareness and share policy solutions. By increasing awareness of the use of public transportation in human trafficking and collaborating to find and implement strategic solutions, policymakers and key stakeholders can do their part to increase safety on public transit. While transportation safety is a multifaceted issue, a focal point of the solution should be the role and responsibility of those in the transportation industry. "We are thrilled to start this project at CSG. This is an important issue for many states, and we are honored to be a part of facilitating a collaborative environment where state leaders can work toward solutions together."
— Elizabeth Whitehouse, CSG chief public policy officer
The transportation industry has grown exponentially since 1996 as people increasingly use public transportation. In 2018 alone, public transportation serviced an estimated 9.9 billion trips, according to the
Center for Transportation Excellence. Subways, buses and other forms of public transit are more affordable and efficient methods for people to travel, especially in larger urban areas.
Effective solutions to human trafficking should include: • Collaboration. • Consistency. • Culturally appropriate services. • Involvement of survivors in the development of services.
The Safety Awareness on Public Transit project will convene policymakers and subject matter experts in transit security to offer solutions for fighting human trafficking in public transit. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 defines human trafficking as either “sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.” It is difficult to determine the rate of human trafficking due to the number of cases that go unreported, but the International Labour Organization estimates that almost 25 million people are exploited globally. While U.S. law does not specify that transportation must occur for human trafficking to take place — it is generally defined by the presence of exploitation — victims of trafficking can be better isolated from family and support systems when victims are physically moved long distances, according to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Polaris advises that understanding how traffickers control and exploit victims can better inform countermeasures centered around vulnerable populations. Traffickers’ tactics can including coercion and threats, intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, minimizing the harm of exploitation or abuse, using privilege and abusing victims sexually, physically and economically. Traffickers use multiple methods of transportation to capture and move victims, but public transportation is used due to the anonymity it offers. Of 104 survivors who participated in a Polaris study, most were trafficked by local bus, subway or long-distance bus. Many victims are initially recruited at transportation hubs. In a 2018 Polaris survey, 54% of survivors felt transportation was a barrier to being able to leave their situation. Many need assistance — possibly in the form of donated credits, points or vouchers — in order to use public transportation to return to their homes or shelters.
While some misconceptions exist around who can be trafficked and when, some groups are more vulnerable to being trafficked. Many victims are trafficked by a person they know, and vulnerability to trafficking increases based on poverty, education, family support, mental health and other factors.
Authorized and unauthorized immigrants and residents of areas with high rates of crime and police corruption are also more at risk of being trafficked. Many victims and vulnerable people, including unauthorized immigrants and sex workers, are reluctant to come forward for fear of deportation or arrest. While it could be dangerous to have transit personnel intervene in an active human trafficking situation, policy solutions could include requiring transit agencies to establish travel vouchers or points donation, posting prevention-based materials, training staff on recognizing the signs of human trafficking, developing a trauma-informed response protocol and displaying the National Human Trafficking Hotline number. Existing efforts, such as those in Wisconsin, often focus on raising public awareness of resources (such as hotline information) through social media, and training Department of Motor Vehicle and Department of Transportation employees. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Transportation has a map of victim services available on its website. Although several states have human trafficking training requirements for obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License, few impose the same requirements for public transit employee training. California has passed legislation that requires public transportation employees to complete a training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking. New Jersey has legislation directing the development and posting of information for victims of human trafficking on public transportation.
If you are interested in participating in this project and would like to learn more, please contact Sydney Blodgett at sblodgett@csg.org.
Great Digital Expectations
New opportunities in tech are changing the way citizens interact with government services
by Joel Sams
State technology directors say citizens have new expectations for accessing government services. Sometimes referred to as the Amazon model of digital government, the analogy goes like this: Despite having 1.5 million active sellers, Amazon offers online shoppers a single login and a seamless experience from order to delivery. And better yet, customers never have to stand in line and can complete transactions from their phones. If we can do it with online shopping, says North Dakota Chief Technology Officer Duane Schell, we can do it with government services. Citizens expect the same quality and simplicity of delivery that they enjoy with other digital experiences, and thanks to shifts caused by the pandemic, both government and constituent stakeholders are more accepting of new technology. Digital government, then, isn’t just a future goal — it’s a present opportunity. Schell, who currently serves as president of CSG affiliate the National Association of State Technology Directors, says an important facet of digital government is offering citizen-consumers a “single front door” model for accessing services. “The citizen doesn’t need to know the organizational structure of state government to consume services,” Schell said. “Why do they have to go to five different front doors to fulfill a particular need? There can be a single front door for everything, and whether it’s agency A, B or C that fulfills that is irrelevant.”
Schell says North Dakota’s priorities for digital government are to deploy a world-class government experience, to secure all governmentheld data, and “to deliver the most efficient government services in America.” The last element is admittedly lofty, but Schell wants people to think big. “As we think about digital government, it’s all about that world-class experience,” he said. “It’s delivering services to constituents in the way they live their personal lives.” With expanding digital government comes new demands for of data security. Cloud-based services enable the convenience and access citizens want, but they require additional investment. Schell says security is especially important for state governments because they have a responsibility to citizens that go beyond a business relationship. “In the private sector, consumers have a choice — if a company isn’t taking care of your data, you can choose to go to their competitor,” Schell said. “In state government, the citizens don’t have a choice. You have to give us your data if you want to live here, so it is our moral responsibility, with the types of data and the amount of data that we retain, to have an exceedingly high bar around security. We’re custodians of taxpayers’ dollars.” Historically, Schell says, state governments have been good at collecting data — and not so good at making the most out of it. Today, though, an increased awareness of the value of data is driving more appreciation and investment.
“We’re at a very exciting time right now,” Schell said. “Presenting our data in a way that allows for folks to do the analytics, and the discovery that they need to make smart decisions, is easy to do today. The interest is there, and it’s a huge priority — using our data to discover how we can make society better within the confines of the role of government.” COVID-19 didn’t really change North Dakota’s information technology strategy, Schell says. Instead, it accelerated acceptance of existing technology and drove increased awareness of its value for government services.
“The excitement around that and the desire for that from all stakeholders is as strong as I’ve ever seen it,” Schell said. “[The value] is clearly there, and it’s just a truly exciting time to be in the public sector right now.” Wherever states are in their digital journeys, Schell says now is the time to embrace change and think about new ways to serve constituents. “Digital government is the opportunity to significantly transform how government functions, how we deliver services to our constituents and how we define the correct services for our constituents,” Schell said. “If you don’t have a concerted effort in this space, you’re falling way behind. I’ve been the public sector in the neighborhood of 20 years, and I’ve never seen this much opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of real citizens.”
In Pennsylvania, Chief Technology Officer Jason Hebbe said the state is focusing on “cloud smart” strategy, cybersecurity, domain management and the customer experience. On the customer-facing front, Pennsylvania is working toward a single identity for users and leveraging artificial intelligence tools like chat bots and voice bots to streamline constituents’ experience and connect them with the resources they need.
— North Dakota Chief Technology Officer Duane Schell
— Pennsylvania Chief Technology Officer Jason Hebbe
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Hebbe said. “It will take some time, but we’re trying to get down to a single identity and a single phone number that citizens can call to get information without needing to know specifics around what they’re looking for.” At the height of the pandemic, voice bot capabilities became important in handling a high volume of calls related to unemployment benefits. “Our unemployment compensation call center was inundated with calls, and we were putting as many people on phones as we could to help answer questions about unemployment benefits and the status of those requests and things like that,” Hebbe said. “We were able to interject a voice bot capability that could go and look for information to help with that call volume, and it was extremely successful.” Other innovations driven by COVID-19 included a full-enterprise virtual private network (VPN) solution to enable a virtual desktop presence for remote employees. Other cloud-based services, like collaboration tools and email, added both flexibility and extra cybersecurity requirements like multi-factor authentication. Even measures related to fighting the virus often relied on cloud services.
“We had to execute quickly,” Hebbe said. “Whether for contact tracing, vaccine scheduling or vaccine distribution, we had to stand up a lot of services directly related to COVID internally, and the cloud was hugely beneficial in that space. Pre-pandemic, the cloud was still a little scary. Once the pandemic hit, people realized it’s secure, we can get some of the services we need, and we saw increased adoption.” One of the biggest challenges in state efforts toward digital government isn’t a technical hurdle, Hebbe says — it’s money. Moving from current to future technology is essential, but it isn’t cheap. Additionally, expanding technology means expanding security commitments. “Security has to be first and foremost, especially in a hybrid multi-cloud environment,” Hebbe said. “You really have to take it seriously because your boundaries continue to increase. It is of utmost importance that we protect citizen data, because it’s their data, not ours.” In terms of the citizen experience, Hebbe encourages state leaders to think about constituent expectations for service delivery. How do people access services in daily life, and what will it take for state government to adapt? “They want things faster,” Hebbe said. “We all know that I can go place an order and in two days, it’s on my front porch. Citizens expect the same thing from the services we provide. We have to continue to work toward improving and meeting those demands. […] Our primary goal is to bring value to the agencies we serve, and ultimately, to the citizens they serve.”
In Texas, a new app created by the Department of Information Resources is advancing that goal, according to DIR Director of Strategic Digital Services , Jennifer Buaas. Currently a responsive web application, Texas by Texas, or TxT, allows citizen customers to interact with multiple government services using a single app and a single login. A native mobile app will be released in January and will be available through the Google and Apple stores. “It’s an account-based platform that provides an interactive way for our Texans to take care of their government services with a highly secure and faster, easier way to interact with the government,” Buaas said. Vehicle registration and driver’s license renewals are already integrated with the platform, with more services to come. “The vision is to just keep expanding those government services into this this one platform so that our Texas constituents don’t have to go to multiple apps or multiple websites to access and transact with their government,” she said. Like many states, Texas has experienced a surge in technology deployment and acceptance during the pandemic. The state saw a surge in legislative action, too — Buaas says the last session saw the most tech-related bills ever.
“We’re really trying to drive all of state of Texas IT organizations to work with the business and collaborate on what the new norm is that’s being expected by our constituent base,” Buaas said. It’s not enough to have available technology, Buaas says, or even to convince the public of its value. To see progress in digital government, states must earn buy-in from internal stakeholders as well. “We are focusing on digital government as really trying to change the way our leadership and agencies look at delivering their services to our constituent base,” she said. “We think when we’re able to start seeing that it’s not just the technology that’s available, [that] it’s more about the culture of an organization and how they’re really going to shift that delivery of those services, that’s when you really, truly get to a digital government.” As the state moves forward with digital government efforts, Texas DIR is focusing on the user experience through the lens of what Buaas calls “human-centered design.” “If I’m the constituent when they’re using this application on their phone, what is the experience? What do studies show is the best experience for them? How many clicks on their phone; where is it placed on the phone or any kind of device — that’s what we’re trying to target. What is easier for the constituent and the end user when they’re going through the application?” “The pandemic forced agencies to look at how they’re delivering services in a different way,” Buaas said. “I think putting the right digital platforms in place is going to help Texans understand and have a different viewpoint on their government services. There’s absolutely an opportunity now with funding and being able to modernize some of these applications that maybe we wouldn’t have been able to do a couple of years ago.” As states and agencies continue to innovate in the digital government space, Buaas said it’s important to remember that digital transformation is a process that requires ongoing commitment. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” Buaas said. “You don’t just modernize an app and say, ‘OK, well, we did it; we’re done.’ It requires a commitment from leadership to fundamentally change how an agency operates and delivers value, not just to the constituents, but to their internal customers. “Digital transformation is a journey that you’re always on, and it requires a cultural shift. And leadership has to support that cultural shift.”
Screenshots from the Texas by Texas app, a responsive web application that allows citizen customers to interact with multiple government services using a single log in.
THE CSG 20 UNDER 40
LEADERSHIP The recipients of the 2021 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award hail from 20 states, four regions and different branches of government. But they have something in common: a true commit-
AWARD ment to serving the citizens of their states by working across party lines. This annual honor recognizes the outstanding work of 20 up-and-coming elected and appointed MEET THE CLASS officials who exemplify strong leadership skills. Those recognized this year come from diverse backgrounds and opposing political parties, but we honor their shared singular commitment to make a difference by Mary Elizabeth Lonergan for those they serve.
Rep. Ajay Pittman
OklahOma
Authentic is one word that describes Oklahoma state Rep. Ajay Pittman. Elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2019, she holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and with the Seminole Nation — a heritage that is very important to her. In her office, she surrounds herself with mementos of that unique heritage. “I keep tribal gifts to remind me of my humility, culture and commitment to service,” she said. “For example, Native artwork by Enoch Kelly Haney, wings of God, tribal blankets. My African American heritage photos and poems confirm my resilience and sacrifice in honor of those who help pave the way for me.” She recognized challenges in her community that were being avoided by those in government — many of whom had never lived in northeast Oklahoma City, the district she now represents. So, Pittman decided to run for office.
“My community faces difficulties every day, and these challenges are often ignored. My goal is to bring awareness to those issues through community partnerships.” “Service is the price you pay for the space you occupy,” Pittman said of her life motto. She points to Ephesians 2:10 as part of that sentiment: “We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Through this opportunity, she also hopes to be a role model for other women, especially women of color, and to show that “with determination, hard work and doing what is right, anything is possible.” As COVID-19 exposed the inequalities between the people of northern Oklahoma City, Pittman and other state leaders addressed crises including food deserts, eviction, unemployment and access to technology. “We have successfully developed partnerships with both public and private organizations to help bring relief to our state. We have passed laws through primary relationships and delivered resources and services to those in need.”
These were tough challenges, and Pittman looked to her own role models including her native grandmother, her mother and other women she admires who have served in public office for inspiration and guidance.
She hopes other young people will see problems and want to get involved by running for a public office. “I want emerging young leaders to be authentic and get involved,” Pittman said. “If you are interested in a particular career, you must surround yourself with mentors in that field. “Do not let anyone tell you that you are too young to start.”
I want emerging young leaders to be authentic and get involved […] Do not let anyone tell you that you are too young to start.” — Rep. Ajay Pittman, Oklahoma
Rep. Daniel Perez
FlOrida
“Being the chair for the Judiciary Committee, which passed the COVID Liability Bill, has been one of my greatest accomplishments,” said Florida state Rep. Daniel Perez. “We were able to assure our small businesses that frivolous lawsuits would not be able to maneuver their way into Florida. If businesses in Florida abide by public health guidelines, they will be able to keep their doors open during the pandemic.” Perez was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2017. It was important to him to become a public servant because he wanted to speak for those who couldn’t. “Advocacy has been instilled in me since a young age. Growing up in a family with a severely autistic younger brother, I learned the importance of representing those that are voiceless. The opportunity of serving in the legislature has allowed me to play an integral part in funding programs for those that have unique talents in our community.” Perez is currently working to give a voice to his constituents who face a housing crisis. “The cost of living continues to rise throughout Florida and especially Miami-Dade County,” he said. “As many of my constituents grow older the increase of living expenses has severely impacted many who are on fixed incomes. Specifically, property taxes and homeowners’ insurance have not decreased in recent history.” He encourages other young people to get involved in a career in public service if they have the desire to help others. “If you have the passion to serve, jump,” he said. “There is never a perfect time to run for office. If you believe you are the best person to represent your community, do it.” Outside of his life in public service, Perez is focused on his family and enjoys playing tennis.
In my second term at the state legislature, the Speaker of the House appointed me as co-chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. With my background growing up, no one would have expected me to even be in the legislature, much less the chairman of one of its most significant committees.”
— Rep. Destin Hall, North Carolina
Rep. Destin Hall
NOrth CarOliNa
Family and faith are the cornerstones of North Carolina state Rep. Destin Hall’s leadership and the values he carries every day in the legislature. Hall first took office in 2017. Since then, he dedicated himself to working for the people in his district. “The biggest issue facing my constituents is economic opportunity,” Hall said. “Textile and furniture industries were the heart of Caldwell County until the North American Free Trade Agreement destroyed our community. Presently, Caldwell is in a transition to becoming a magnet for the likes of technology and information-based companies, business services and food processors and distributors. “My job is to make sure Caldwell receives everything it needs to be successful whether that be funding for its community college and technical schools to create a strong workforce or increasing access to broadband internet.”
Hall ran for office because he witnessed this and so many other issues impacting his community and wanted to be a catalyst for change. “I decided to run for office because I wanted to make sure my home county’s voice was heard in our state’s Capitol. My grandparents were instrumental in raising me due to substance abuse issues faced by my parents. After graduating from law school, I began practicing law in Charlotte, and I intended to stay there long term. However, my grandparents began to fall into bad health during this time, and I decided to move back home, temporarily, to help care for them. “After returning home, I got involved in local politics and became the treasurer for my county’s Republican Party. I enjoyed living in my hometown and decided to stay there permanently. I wanted to do everything I could to make it the best place it could be, and I knew that making sure our voice was heard in the state capital could be a driving force for that goal. My opportunity to do that came shortly thereafter when my House seat opened, and I decided to run.” Family continues to be important to him, and he looks to the example his grandfather, Reese, set for him growing up for inspiration. “He had to drop out of high school in order to assist his family financially. He has always been the person to step up to the plate when needed. I admire his accountability, hard work and determination. He has been a constant in my life and shaped me into the man I am today.”
Cerron Cade
Appointed to direct the state Office of Management and Budget at the beginning of 2021 by Delaware Gov. John Carney, Cerron Cade exemplifies leadership. He provides policy analysis and fiscal management for the governor’s policy agenda, and in his role, he can examine which policy areas will be successful and which will be a challenge for his state. “One of the biggest issues facing Delawareans is the rapidly changing economy and its impact on people’s ability to get a good job, buy a home, provide for their families, send their kids to college debt-free and save for retirement,” Cade said. “Government doesn’t create jobs, but we can provide opportunities to better prepare our workforce for the jobs of the future, while creating a nurturing environment for businesses to grow and prosper.” But every opportunity requires funding, and he recognizes the difficulty of balancing a state budget. “One of the biggest obstacles we face is balancing the demand for low taxes and the budgetary constraints of continuously growing government expenses, with making the necessary investments in modernizing public service for future generations,” Cade said. “Private industry invests billions of dollars into customer service and creating easy-to-use interfaces to connect with consumers. Today, you can order an item from Amazon, and it may arrive at your home or place of business before dinner. Most major corporations have adopted virtual chat features to troubleshoot customer problems. Just 10 years ago when you purchased your home you sat in front of a real estate agent and physically signed dozens of documents. However, today with Adobe and DocuSign, you can sign these forms from your cell phone while you Uber home from work.”
These are changes that will be headed toward government services next, Cade predicts. (Read more about digital innovation in government on page 16). “As these private sector advancements continue to grow, government services will be forced to meet the public’s elevated expectations of good service. This will require new investments in technology and the public sector workforce. For city, municipal and state governments, this will not be an inexpensive or quick process. It will require commitment, vision and long-term planning — virtues that are not always readily available in politics.” Cade is ready to meet the challenges of his job head-on. “Mark Twain once said, ‘The two most important days in your life are the day you’re born and the day you find out why.’ My purpose in life is to commit myself to endeavors that serve the greatest number of people; to make my corner of the world a little bit better than I found it. The work we do in the public sector gives me the greatest opportunity to achieve this result. As public servants, we ensure that children are educated equitably, that families have access to health care, and that we have a fertile environment for job growth and preservation. As public servants, we wake up every day recognizing that the problems that kept us up the night before stem from a responsibility to protect the interest of people who may never even know our names.” Cade said he is inspired by the example set by his parents, and he looks to them as examples of character and strength. Today, when Cade is not working, he said he is with his daughters or playing golf — “poorly.” During his time in public service, Cade said he is most proud of the work he has done that has helped mitigate COVID-19 in Delaware. “My greatest accomplishment has been playing an active role in our state’s response to the COVID pandemic. Thousands of government workers in state agencies around the country performed essential tasks related to standing up testing and vaccination sites, purchasing and delivering PPE, implementing distance learning strategies or processing billions in unemployment benefits to families unable to work. I will look back on my experiences leading and working alongside these public servants in response to a global pandemic as one of my greatest professional accomplishments.”
I would tell [others] to seek out the toughest assignments and attempt to solve the hardest problems. These solutions will rarely be the most attractive or popular. However, without the commitment of young public servants these difficult tasks will continue to be passed down to future generations.”
— Cerron Cade, director of the Delaware Office of Management and Budget
Rep. Jena Powell
OhiO
The youngest member of the Ohio House, state Rep. Jena Powell is serving her second term representing the 80th District, which encompasses Miami County and part of Darke County. Powell is from southern Darke County where her family has been farming for generations. After earning her business degree from Liberty University, Powell and her brother built an outdoor marketing company, Huntington Outdoor. In 2019, she was named to Forbes' prestigious 30 Under 30 list for law and policy. As a business owner, she strives to make Ohio a competitive state for jobs and investment. She sponsored HB 277, which revises regulation of the cosmetology and barbering professions. “I am on a mission to make Ohio the most business-friendly state in the nation,” she wrote on Twitter. “One of the biggest steps we can take in that direction is to stop overregulating individuals in our state.”
Rep. Jamie Scott
arkaNsas
Arkansas state Rep. Jamie Scott received some impactful advice early in her career from a couple of very seasoned political figures. As a graduate of the Presidential Leaders Scholars Program, Scott met former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Clinton told her, “If you take a job in public life, you are taking the responsibility to win every day for all of the people. Oppose with all your heart, if it’s something you believe in; make sure you are always respectful in your opposition.” She said Bush offered her some wisdom that has kept her going through each election: “Don’t chase the poll numbers or popularity. And never yield on your principles.” Scott feels strongly about helping others in need and fighting for the rights of others. In her life outside of politics, she works as the executive director of youth services for Pulaski County, serving as a champion for youth and families in her community. It has been especially important through the COVID-19 pandemic as many young people have lost a parent, sibling or teacher to the virus. That passion for fighting for others is something deeply instilled in Scott. “I grew up in a family that was at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement in North Little Rock,” she said. “My uncle, Richard Lindsey, was a member of the North Little Rock Six who attempted to integrate North Little Rock High School. My career and calling in life are constantly inspired by the stories and struggles endured by my uncle and the North Little Rock Six in their pursuit of quality education.” Scott ran for the 37th Arkansas House District seat as a way of embodying the values of her family’s legacy and turning her passion into action. She wanted to actively contribute to and enhance the place she calls home. Often, that has meant working with others in the legislature — across party lines — to achieve important work. “I’m really proud of House Bill 1470. We worked together to amend the law to prohibit solitary confinement in juvenile detention facilities or restrictive housing for women in a correctional or detention facility for individuals who are pregnant, are breastfeeding, have given birth within the past 30 days, are suffering from postpartum depression or caring for a child.”
Never let the lack of representation, no one asking you to run for office or self-doubt impede you from serving your community. Recognize that you have the ability to make a true impact. You can blaze trails that can leave pathways for future generations. We can’t sit back and do nothing when we see injustices and inequalities that disproportionately harm our friends and family. We have to move beyond being social justice keyboard warriors. We have the opportunity to participate and utilize our voice for the betterment of all. If you are considering it, you should go for it. It is one of the best decisions I ever made.”
— Rep. Jamie Scott, Arkansas
North Dakota needed someone to bring up the concerns of young professionals in the state, and Corey Mock wanted to be that voice. Mock, who was elected in 2008 to the state House of Representatives, decided to run after a friend encouraged him. “After much consultation with friends and family, it became clear — if all issues and concerns of young professionals were not coming forward from this district’s elected leaders, chances were great those viewpoints were missing from the state Capitol,” he said. “I announced my candidacy in February 2008 and in November, our district elected a bipartisan ticket of legislators — all under 30 years of age, myself included — to represent them in the North Dakota House and Senate.”
In Mock’s 42nd District, the issues of the day reflect those of the country. “My friends, neighbors and constituents are facing issues very similar to most of our state, region and country — workforce and labor challenges, access to affordable housing, aging infrastructure, quality and affordable child care and challenges directly and indirectly related to COVID19,” Mock said. “Perhaps more unique to our community is regional economic certainty and stability. Some of our largest employers, including our regional medical center, face financial challenges that have led to layoffs and deferred investments. Perhaps the greatest unspoken question lingering in thousands of minds is ‘Will I still have a job with my current employer in five years?’” Mock said his greatest accomplishments in office center around supporting others and working to solve even the smallest of problems for his constituents.
“As a more experienced legislator, I go out of my way to welcome each incoming and returning legislator, offer and provide advice and support to all (regardless of political party) and check in with newer legislators throughout the session to guide wherever possible. These relationships always seem to create a more constructive work environment and build mutual respect among colleagues, even when we disagree on specific issues,” he said. Mock said he works hard to balance his expectations for that respect and bipartisanship.
Rep. Corey Mock
NOrth dakOta
“People may be hyper-partisan. Our world may seem to be more ideologically polarized. The challenges and issues we all face, however, are apolitical,” he said. “Bridging these worlds is critical but has become more challenging with diminishing support and empathy.” To accomplish this, Mock follows the advice shared in his household every day. “Play nicely with others,” he said. “Civility, decency and respect of others are just as important lessons for policymakers and professionals as they are for preschoolers and children.” In his role as a legislator, partner and father, as well as his profession as a real estate agent and leadership consultant, Mock says he spends nearly every moment of his day negotiating with others to get to “yes.” Of his policy achievements, he considers one of the most meaningful to be a bill he introduced on behalf of the deaf and hard of hearing community to require minimum training for essential interpreter services. Additionally, he is particularly proud of a two-year project to extend bereavement leave for state employees following the loss of a child, something Mock said he took a specific interest in after a former law enforcement officer lost their teenage child to suicide and was limited by policy to just three days of bereavement leave. Mock and his family lost a close friend and neighbor in a tragic motor vehicle accident earlier this year. While it was an event that he says was one of the most devastating moments of his life, the response of neighbors, friends and strangers to support his family sticks with him. “Many of us have shared similar loss and challenges over the last one to two years,” Mock said. “Pain lingers and will never go away, but the agony of unexpected loss is soothed knowing decency and humanity still exist in our world.”
— Rep. Corey Mock, North Dakota
Sen. David Wilson
alaska
Alaska state Sen. David Wilson understands that public service means making a difference to those he serves. Since he was elected in 2017, Wilson has filed legislation every session. His bills center around family, behavioral health, education and making Alaska better for business. “A former state senator once told me that there are two types of legislators: night lights and bright lights. The night lights are the legislators that work hard all through the day and night. They show up prepared to work and to get business done. The bright lights show up for the opportunity to be seen. They work for the camera, the spotlight and the media attention. The former state senator then left me with the question of what type of legislator I wanted to be,” Wilson said. Of the legislation he has worked on, he is most proud of Senate Bill 105 during the 30th legislative session and Senate Bill 134 during the 31st legislative session. “These bills allow for licensed marital and family therapists and licensed professional counselors to be added to the list of independently licensed practitioners to address a critical shortage of Medicaid-eligible behavioral health providers in the state. The legislation afforded more options for beneficiaries and increased access to behavioral health care. Before the passage of these bills, Medicaid clients had difficulties finding access to behavioral healthcare and often had to wait three to six months for appointments.” Prior to being elected to state Senate, Wilson was a city councilman in Wasilla. He says public service is a matter of focus. “I would tell anyone that is considering public service that they should have a clear understanding of why they want to serve and to stay focused on that. Once you lose focus on why you wanted to serve, that is when you know it is time to leave.” Today, Wilson says his office décor includes various types of artwork that allows him to be “reminiscent of history and stay culturally grounded.” He serves as the chair of the Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Corrections, Environmental Conservation, Health and Social Services, and Revenue committees. His committee memberships include the University of Alaska, Finance, Community and Regional Affairs, Fish and Game and Legislative Affairs. Wilson is married to Aleta, and when he is not in the office working for a better Alaska, he is an amateur beekeeper. His honey took second place at the 2021 Alaska State Fair.
Rep. Candice Backus Pierucci
utah
Utah state Rep. Candice Backus Pierucci is surrounded by great women. In her office, she keeps a poster of Amelia Earhart and one of Eleanor Roosevelt, which hang alongside framed photos of other important women who inspire her. She got an early start in public service while serving as a high school intern for her state representative, and she fell in love with the process. “I remember walking up the steps to the Capitol thinking, ‘This is where I want to be; I want to make a difference,’” she said. “My experience at the state Capitol led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in political science and an internship in Washington, D.C. in the U.S. Senate.” When her state representative resigned, she felt it was time to step up. “I grew up in my district, was a product of our community and felt like I understood the issues our area faced,” she said. “Both my husband and I felt like it was the right thing to do and with that, I jumped into the special election and won the race.” Today, Pierucci says her district is one of the fastest growing areas in the country and faces unique challenges as it booms. “Since the last census was conducted, our district has grown 102%. As such, issues related to responsible growth are incredibly important — infrastructure, transportation, water resources, education and preserving quality of life.” She recently passed legislation that she considers her greatest accomplishment so far in office. “I passed legislation to exempt military retirees from having to pay income tax on their military retirement income, as well as their survivors and their survivor benefits. Utah was one of the last four states to tax our military’s retirement, as well as their survivors’ benefits. I worked closely with leadership, my colleagues, the Senate and military partners to get this bill passed. It’s the least we could do to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have served in our military.” Despite these successes, Pierucci says she still must overcome some obstacles.
“One of the biggest challenges of public service is balancing the demands of legislative duties, commissions, working groups, work, responding to constituents, taking care of a family, etc. I work hard to be accessible, engaged in the community and responsive to constituents and community needs. It can be challenging to find the time to do it all.” Still, Pierucci maintains an unflinching attitude toward challenges, even large ones like the COVID-19 pandemic. As those related restrictions loosen, she is grateful to have in-person interactions again. “During the pandemic, I think we realized as a society that as much as we think we can live through social media and online conversations, we crave in-person interaction,” she said. “It’s good to see people’s smiling faces again.”
Sen. T’wina Nobles
washiNgtON
Washington state Sen. T’wina Nobles has always cared for others. She said her passion for public service began at home.
“I started where many public servants start — under my own roof by looking after my mom, who was a drug addict, and my brothers who needed someone caring. The ability to look beyond myself and help others in need then carried over to my life in community.” Nobles was elected in 2020. Her childhood has been anything but traditional. She spent time in foster homes and homeless shelters. “As a young person experiencing foster care, I was placed with a family whose father served as an elected official. This opened my eyes to what was possible in a life of service. I saw someone who had been called by community to serve, and who had answered that call.” Nobles was able to transform her life circumstance into one of success. She received a master’s degree in education and became a public school teacher. Also a parent, Nobles served as the PTA leader. “Through these experiences, I learned about the gaps in our education system, which prompted my run for school board. This is how my journey in service has formed — as I see needs, I ask myself how I can meet them,” she said. Nobles said the biggest concerns in her district stem from the pandemic. “This pandemic has exacerbated issues already present in our communities, and moving through the pandemic continues to be the biggest issue facing my constituents. Attainable and affordable housing has been a crisis across the community and has only become more critical during this time. How we ensure that community members stay housed and landlords make their living has been a focus here,” she said. “Additionally, mental and behavioral health challenges continue to be a key issue, and one where greater attention and resources are necessary. While our community has been navigating these issues, there has been a racial reckoning as well. The pandemic has laid bare how divided our society is and feels, and at times it seems as though we’ve lost a bit of our humanity.” Nobles said through her work in schools and as the president and CEO of Tacoma Urban League and co-founder of the Black Future Co-Op Fund, she recognizes the unique challenges serving the public can bring. “Now that I am here in the legislature and a part of this institution, I must decide how to show up. This means navigating how to bring my authentic self and serve my community in the ways I know are effective within the walls of an institution that can be rigid.”
— Sen. T'wina Nobles, Washington
Rep. London Lamar
teNNessee
Rep. London Lamar comes from generations of change leaders. Her grandmother started an organization more than 50 years ago that allowed women to become active in community involvement. Watching her grandmother’s organization flourish, and knowing her own leadership skills, Lamar decided to run for office. “I continued to develop my natural leadership skills through middle and high school. My senior year of high school, I witnessed the election of President Barack Obama. Not only did President Obama look like me, but we shared a passion for serving and improving our community. His election gave me the confidence I needed to pursue politics, and I never looked back.”
Lamar was elected to the Tennessee’s House of Representatives in 2018. She was re-elected in 2020 and sits on the Criminal Justice and Ways and Means committees. Since taking office, Lamar has written and passed legislation that would positively impact women going in labor. “I was able to integrate the lived experiences of people going through the birthing process with legislation and policy. I wrote and passed legislation that elevated the status of doulas in birth work, created supports for student mothers, and increased the humanity for pregnant people who are incarcerated.” Her dream for Tennessee is to see the state continue to grow. “For my community to progress from surviving to thriving, Tennessee must provide a world class public education, offer opportunities to grow and maintain adequate physical, mental and financial health while building relationships to create safer communities. For this upcoming legislative session, I see economic development and health disparities as our biggest area of opportunity.” Lamar said she is able to deliver results to her district because she follows her mother’s advice.
“My mother always told me, ‘Successful people are never afraid to hire people smarter than them.’ Essentially, the best way to grow and develop is through collaboration. I build my team with the intent of surrounding myself with people who can help me strengthen my areas of opportunity,” she said.
When I first entered [public office], I expected myself to be a superhero. I wanted to take on everything and maximize the results for my constituents. The reality is that I am one person, and I can’t do everything. I will give my very best to deliver what I can to my community and citizens in need.”
— Rep. London Lamar, Tennessee
Sen. Megan Hunt
NeBraska
Sen. Megan Hunt has not let the events of the past year steal the positive changes she is noticing in politics. “I am so encouraged by what I see young people doing today in terms of political engagement and civic activism,” she said. “People are really curious and aware of issues of power, responsibility, justice and oppression, and I am noticing more and more folks working to make change. Whether it’s because of racial injustice, the pandemic, economic inequality, what have you — people are engaged and activated, and I think this will lead to something with long-term impact.” Hunt got involved in public service before her election. She started by helping students in Nebraska. “In 2015, my local public school district was considering a new comprehensive sex education curriculum to educate students about sexual health, consent and healthy relationships. I became deeply involved in this effort because I want kids to receive education informed by the best possible science and research, which they weren’t getting at the time. I’m a mother and an assault survivor, and I couldn’t help but think that if my peers and I had received accurate sexual health education, we would have grown up in a safer world, and that’s the world our children deserve today.” Hunt said her county has some of the highest sexually transmitted disease and infection rates in the country and sex education was one way to lower that statistic. “It took a lot of effort, but we got it done, and almost immediately we saw STI rates decline. The progressive win was intoxicating to me, and I decided I wanted to expand my advocacy and spend more time working on policy from the inside,” she said. Hunt built on that advocacy, and she was elected to the unicameral Nebraska Legislature in 2018 where she focused on energy. “I passed the bill that gave Nebraska the most progressive energy code policy in the country. The bill, LB 405, updated the Nebraska Energy code from the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code to the unamended 2018 IECC, a three-version code jump signed into law in 2019. Nebraska is now a nationwide leader in energy efficiency, creating economic opportunities, protecting the environment and advancing clean energy across the Midwest.” Hunt said she was also proud of the bill to allow college athletes to receive compensation for the use of their likeness, as well as the legislation she has prevented from moving forward. “I’m proud of […] the headway I have made on progressive issues that people said would never happen in Nebraska, like LGBTQ equality, reproductive rights and raising the wage,” she said. Hunt often draws inspiration from the wise words of her mentor, Nebraska’s longest-serving state senator, Ernie Chambers. “He would say, ‘Success, to me, is doing what is available for me to do.’ If we have done our best, how can anyone ask any more of us? That’s success. Sometimes things don’t break our way. But if we do what’s available for us to do, that has to be enough.”
Sen. Cory McCray
marylaNd
Sen. Cory McCray’s mother gave her son wisdom and guidance early in his life. In addition to encouraging her son to apply for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 24 apprenticeship program, she gave him some advice that has stuck
with the Maryland state senator. “You are a shining star and don’t ever let anyone dim your light,” he said. “With every shining star, their light shines brightly, which gives people the light to see and examine the choices you make, so make good choices and always put people first. My mother told me that.” McCray, who grew up in Baltimore, followed his mother’s encouragement to apply for the apprenticeship and went on to find many successes.
“I was blessed to graduate from the apprenticeship as an electrician, marry my beautiful wife, Demetria, and earn a living that provides for us to raise our four children — Kennedy, Reagan, CJ and Bryson,” he said. “I am blessed beyond measure and have reached a point in life where I realized that the true measure of success is how many people you can bring through the door with you as we all grow. “I serve in the Maryland General Assembly to increase the same opportunities that were shared with me to create a beautiful life for my family and me.”
His constituents in Maryland District 45 face a lack of resources to flourish, McCray said. “For too many years, my constituents have lived with a deep disparity in the level of public resources invested in their communities in comparison to surrounding areas. This weak public investment has caused an increase in the area’s vacant housing, worsened public safety issues, caused upward rates of poverty and failing schools, and left a crumbling public infrastructure. “The inequitable distribution of services and resources by our local, state and federal government has long-lingering effects, and we must be strategic about remedying the wrong and restoring the investment that was denied.”
McCray was elected to his state Senate in 2019 after serving in the Maryland House of Delegates since 2015, and he hopes through his continued service that he will help to remedy these issues. “Time is necessary to restore faith and trust in the work of governing. Time is necessary to rebuild our neglected neighborhoods. There is never enough time in the day to tackle all of the challenges and obstacles facing us, but I try to give it my all each and every day,” McCray said. McCray, who serves as deputy majority whip, has made great strides toward solutions. He said his greatest accomplishment since taking office occurred when he was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, before he was elected to the Senate. “Restoring voting rights to over 40,000 taxpaying Marylanders who were on parole and probation. In 2016, our neighbors across the State of Maryland were able to vote for the first time.”
Despite the hardships resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic that have impacted the country over the last two years, McCray says Maryland is poised to see some positive changes. “The CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act have created real opportunities for state and local governments to make substantive investments in the strategic and structural needs of our communities. We have a real opportunity to invest in education, green spaces, transportation, recreation and neighborhoods for generations to come, and with meaningful investment.”
Anything can be achieved if you work hard, are committed to the issues and their solutions and act with your heart. Time is your greatest asset — exercise discipline and be mindful that relationships matter in all work.”
— Sen. Cory McCray, Maryland
Rep. Jeremy Gray
alaBama
Mental and physical health are a top priority for Alabama state Rep. Jeremy Gray. So much so that he spent three years removing a yoga ban in Alabama schools.
“My greatest accomplishment has been lifting the 28-year ban on yoga in K-12 public schools and instantly seeing the fruits of my labor as schools have started to implement yoga all across Alabama. It gives me great joy to know the three-year yoga battle was not fought in vain.” Gray is a student at Auburn University and is part of the 2022 Executive Master of Business Administration distance learning cohort. He also has a motivational brand that promotes a lifestyle transformation and a foundation, The Curtis House, which serves as a safe haven and resource community center to help some of the most vulnerable community members in Lee County, Alabama. He is passionate about working in his community but meeting the demands of his constituents is one of the biggest challenges that he faces. “Everyone loves an elected official that is approachable, accessible, relatable and reliable. I try to check the box in those categories on a consistent basis, but at times I find myself running from event to event and county to county trying to make every function, make everyone happy and be the solution to everyone’s problem. “This level of expectation can occasionally be unmanageable and at times it’s taxing both mentally and physically. It didn’t take me long to figure out this part-time position is anything but part-time. As the old saying goes, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’” Gray is working to facilitate legislation that helps all of the constituents in his district, which span both rural and urban communities. One issue that both have in common is access to health care.
“Alabama as a state hasn’t expanded Medicaid, and we are ranked at the bottom in health care access nationwide,” Gray said. “However, the rural part of my district is behind the curve in digital infrastructure. Due to the absence of broadband and high-speed internet, there is a gap in access to quality education and information. Connectivity needs to be a priority in the state of Alabama.” “
In order to accomplish anything worthwhile, you have to be willing to put in the time and effort and know that sometimes the work doesn’t offer an expedited return on investment, but it will happen in its own perfect timing. My minority leader, Anthony Daniels, gave me this advice along with the gentle reminder that it is important to understand how to play the long game.”
— Rep. Jeremy Gray, Alabama
Sen. Julia Coleman
miNNesOta
Julia Coleman was about to give birth when she decided to run for office. At eight months pregnant, Coleman knew she needed to get to work creating a better future for her son. Since her election in 2020, Coleman has been actively creating legislation to make Minnesota a better place for business and growth. “Carver County, the district I represent, is the fastest growing county in Minnesota. Our county is quickly growing from a rural district to a popular suburb, and the infrastructure is struggling to keep up. That’s why I am so proud that I was able to successfully pass legislation for $25 million to expand one of our highways from two lanes to four lanes, making this dangerous roadway safer and faster for our growing community.” But entering politics has not been free of challenges for this wife and mother.
“Public service is not designed with family friendliness in mind. As the mother to three young boys under the age of two, I have had to maximize my ability to be effective while being efficient. Oftentimes this includes working after the children are asleep at night and before they wake up in the morning, navigating phone calls while cooking dinner and negotiating legislation with key stakeholders while negotiating with my toddler to take a bath.” Since being elected, Coleman points to her efforts in office while preparing to give birth as her proudest moment to date.
“My greatest accomplishment since taking office was passing multiple critical pieces of legislation in my first year, all from the confines of a clinic. A few weeks into my first year my twins were diagnosed with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, and my baby A, Charles, was also diagnosed with Selective Intrauterine Growth Restriction. On top of that, at 24 weeks pregnant I began to go into preterm labor. “I presented bills from the hospital, I voted on legislation during ultrasounds, I negotiated policy from the neonatal intensive care unit. I passed significant, meaningful legislation under the most strenuous of circumstances. I will always be proud of that, and hopefully, this upcoming legislative session will feel easy by comparison.”
Patty Salazar
The COVID-19 pandemic put added pressure on everyone, but Patty Salazar, director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, was able to keep business running as the department adapted to a new normal.
“Now more so than ever, we are heavily dependent on technology to meet our most basic needs — from being able to effectively work remotely to having access to telehealth opportunities to being able to do mobile banking — and our agency must stay ahead of the curve to ensure that our regulations are not only unburdensome yet promoting opportunities in an equitable manner,” she said. “On a related note, while disparities in our regulatory landscape have been a longstanding issue that we have been trying to address, the conversation has a heightened public awareness. One of my goals continues to be a thorough, thoughtful analysis of current rules and regulations to promote equity and inclusion to benefit all Coloradans; this includes ensuring representation on our more than 40 boards and commissions to reflect the demographics of our state, and in turn positively inform the policies adopted.” Salazar believes in some of the best advice she has ever received: “Given that things can change at any moment, when you are in a position of power or influence, use it for good and help as many people as you can, while you can.” She said that as part of her role, being charged with implementing the law and further developing rules and regulations has allowed her to see tangible, measurable results. “I honor the good work of legislators and weigh with equal importance the focus, attention to detail and commitment that needs to occur when laws are made into reality by those in the executive branch.” Salazar encourages people to get involved in public service and said they should consider opportunities to serve on boards and commissions in their communities.
“[It’s] a meaningful way to bring diverse voices to the table to ensure inclusive decision making that further guides and supports the work of government staff.”
Like so many during the pandemic, I have done a lot of personal and professional reflection. I am usually not one to seek recognition, so even applying to be considered for the 20 Under 40 Award was out of my comfort zone, but I did so because I am proud to represent my agency (and the 600 dedicated staff who I work alongside) and to serve in the cabinet of this great state. This award is not just a reflection of my work but more importantly, a recognition of all the good work of the entire agency that I get to represent each day.”
Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski
rhOde islaNd
As the pandemic began to hit the U.S. hard in 2020, Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski’s family, who runs an ambulance company, saw firsthand the impact it had on businesses. The resulting shutdown caused confusion and complications for small businesses, and Baginski wanted to get involved in public service so she could help. “Like many small business owners at that time, we felt powerless. We did not know how we would support the 100-plus employees who rely on us for a livelihood or treat the patients who depend on us for care,” she said. “I decided that spring that I wanted to be at the table where decisions were being made — to ensure Rhode Island was a place where my business and my family could reach their full potential to thrive. “The pandemic, although a severe example, highlighted for me how quickly the world is changing and how important it is to be ready to respond. Suddenly, I was compelled to contribute to our community proactively. I believe younger generations especially have a responsibility to help grow our communities through public service and leadership, so I felt it was the perfect time for me to live that ethos.”
Baginski was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 2020 and quickly made a name for herself in the political scene. “When I was elected to the Rhode Island General Assembly, I was on a mission to help small businesses survive the pandemic. At the time, it seemed an insurmountable task for a first-term legislator like me given the varied needs of struggling businesses,” she said. “Not knowing where to begin, I narrowed my approach — to help one small business.” Baginski, an Italian American, worked with the owners of an Italian family restaurant and contacted other advocates to help this restaurant stay afloat during the uncertainty caused by COVID-19. “Having found some consensus, an idea for a bill began to take shape. With the guidance of two veteran lawmakers from the House leadership team, I submitted my first piece of legislation: a bill which would enable restaurants to sell cocktails to go, with takeout orders until March 2022. “What began as an attempt to help one constituent led me down a path to what would become my most successful piece of legislation, just recently signed into law by the governor of Rhode Island. By remaining focused on helping our neighbors in need, conversations with stakeholders in this legislation transcended politics and partisanship.” “
I believe that young people have the ability and the obligation to help shape our communities for the better […] We all benefit from increased civic engagement, so I urge everyone to participate in our democracy in a way that feels meaningful to them. If that leads to a rewarding career, even better.” — Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski, Rhode Island
Rep. Ponka-We Victors-Cozad
kaNsas
For Kansas state Rep. Ponka-We Victors-Cozad, leadership is part of her heritage. “I am a descendant of Chief Standing Bear of the Ponca tribe. He was a civil rights leader who claimed victory in a big court case against the U.S. government. He fought for our rights as Native Americans and laws to protect us.” Witnessing the wait times in emergency rooms when she was growing up, Victors-Cozad was first inspired to get involved in public service. “Due to a doctor shortage at the Indian Health service clinics and hospitals, I would sit in the emergency room for hours waiting to be seen by a doctor,” she said. “I questioned at a young age what could be done to help fix this problem.” Victors-Cozad, who holds a doctorate in education from Creighton University, was first elected in 2010. She says her greatest accomplishment is a piece of legislation that refunded “claims for state personal income taxes inappropriately withheld from federal military paychecks to Native Americans who had official residences on tribal lands and served on active duty.” She encourages other young people who are interested in public service to get involved. “Participate in internships or shadow a legislator for a day,” she said. “Also, volunteer for a campaign.” Despite the past few years being tough for so many, Victors-Cozad said she was able to find joy. “I married my best friend in April and became a mother in August to a beautiful baby girl named Walking Star Cozad,” she said. In her office, Victors-Cozad keeps a photo of her great-great grandmother, Ellen Little Flyer Crazy Bear. “It’s a reminder that I come from a long line of strong Native American women.”
When she is not working in the legislature, Victors-Cozad is teaching her daughter about their culture and traditions and participating in Native American dances and ceremonies.
Rep. Sean Scanlon
CONNeCtiCut
Legends often have a way of inspiring future generations. Such was the case for Connecticut state Rep. Sean Scanlon.
“I did a book report on Robert F. Kennedy as a high school sophomore that opened my eyes,” he said. “For whatever reason, I was really struck by this idea that there was a job where you could fight to make things better in your community and for people on the downside of advantage.” With that inspiration, Scanlon graduated high school and the next day, read an article in his local paper about a man who worked for Kennedy while he was running for state Senate. “I called him up and said, ‘I'm 17 and have no experience but you worked for my hero and I want to work for you,’ and to his credit he gave me a job and became my political mentor,” Scanlon said. “I stayed involved in politics and the community and 10 years later ran for a seat when the incumbent state representative retired.” Scanlon took office in 2015 and quickly learned that constituents can be slow to trust the government. “I got involved in politics to try and do big things and tackle big problems, but that is increasingly hard to do when trust and confidence in government are so low,” Scanlon said. “During my six years in office I've made it my mission to try and reach across the aisle, work with the other side and work collaboratively to get things accomplished. We won't always agree, but if we prove the system still works, I truly believe it will be harder for people who peddle in pushing hyper partisanship to succeed.”
Scanlon said his ability to reach across the aisle was a part of his greatest legislative accomplishment. “This year was my first year as chair of the Budget Committee, and I'm really proud of the fact that we passed a bipartisan state budget for just the second time in recent history,” he said. Scanlon also pointed to a tragedy that created a bipartisan firearm safe storage bill as another proud accomplishment. He advises others interested in getting involved with public service to be willing to start at the bottom. “Dive in and don't be afraid to do the grunt work. Everyone wants to be the chief of staff or the speechwriter on day one, but no one starts out there and, in my experience, the only people who ever get there are the ones who are OK with learning the ropes, taking on tough assignments and working your way up.”
Rep. Sandra Jauregui
Nevada
Some state leaders are propelled by injustices they see in their communities. Some run for office to correct an imbalance of power or equity. And some, like Nevada state Rep. Sandra Jauregui, use personal experiences to make changes in the laws of their state and country. “I am a survivor of the Oct. 1 shooting that happened in Las Vegas in 2017. And, while I have always been an advocate for gun safety, it wasn’t until after the shooting that I became more vocal on the issue. I knew I had to do everything I could so others wouldn’t have to relive the horrific scenes from that night. So, I turned my fear into action, and over the past four years, I have fought the gun industry and their allies to protect our community, including enacting AB291 and AB286, Nevada’s two most comprehensive gun violence prevention laws in history.” Jauregui was elected to the Nevada Legislature in 2016. She has served in three regular legislative sessions and two special sessions. Currently, she is the Assistant Majority Whip. She wanted to run for office because of the example set by her parents. “My parents emigrated here from Mexico and had five children … Despite being new Americans and starting a new life, my parents were able to start their own business and provide us with an opportunity and environment we needed to succeed. They raised us to believe that if we wanted to be president, start a business or run a non-profit, all we had to do was dedicate ourselves to our cause.”
Jauregui said in Nevada, creating a post-COVID-19 economy for people is a high priority. “I have always fought to make sure Nevadans have access to economic security through good paying, high-quality jobs,” she said. “In a postCOVID world, I’ll continue to fight to bring good paying jobs to Nevada, like rooftop solar, and support incentives for businesses to rehire people who have lost their job due to COVD-19.” Jauregui said that despite her successes in office, she has dealt with several issues she feels many other female legislators might encounter. “Because I was seen as young, I was told I had to change the way I dress, the way I speak and to tone down the energy and enthusiasm,” she said. “Changing that attitude and the perception of what is acceptable and what is not is why we're here working hard to elect more women and diversity across the board. We need a government and elected officials that look like and match the communities they are elected to represent so that, hopefully, the next time a young woman wants to run for office, they don’t have to change the core of who they are to be accepted.”
— Rep. Sandra Jauregui, Nevada
a New generation
of Leaders Millennials and Gen Z are the two largest generations and more of them are stepping up to lead in state government
by Mary Elizabeth Lonergan by Mary Elizabeth Lonergan
Old and male with powdered hair may be the image that comes to mind when people think of our nation's founders, but these days the tapestry of state and national leadership is woven with the colors of all nationalities, races, sexes and ages. However, while more young adults are running for office (and winning), Dr. Elizabeth Matto, director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Youth Political Participation at Rutgers University, says generational disparities still exist. “We are seeing more young adults run for office; we are seeing more young adults win at the national level and at the state and local level,” Matto said. “But given the size of the generation, there still is not the representation that reflects the generational breakdown of the U.S.” It's not for lack of trying, Matto says — and the size of younger generations means they will wield growing political influence. “Millennials and Gen Z are the largest generations — 88 million young adults in the United States. Just by size alone, they stand to make a sizeable impact on American history, American politics and culture for quite a long time,” she said.
AGE DIFFERENCE AN ASSET IN STATE GOVERNMENT
At 19, New Hampshire state Rep. Tony Labranche is one of the youngest state representatives in the country and is the youngest openly LGBTQ member. He was elected in 2020, the same year he graduated high school. “It has been one of the highest honors of my life and I love it — finally having a platform to advocate for issues I have been passionate about since freshman year of high school and making some great friends along the way,” Labranche said. He has felt the impact of ageism since pursing public office; several people refer to him as “the kid.” “Ageism has been the No. 1 attack and No. 1 difficulty,” Labranche said. “On Election Day, one of my opponents told me that in her eyes, I am just a 9-year-old.” At just 10, Labranche began his journey into politics. He was a cancer patient who learned that the hospital he was in charged $40 for a single Tylenol. At the drugstore, he could buy an entire bottle of the same medicine for $7. Learning that someone could profit off his illness and suffering angered and motivated him. He kept that passion, and when he was 18, he ran for office with a 15-yearold campaign manager and a 16-year-old communications director. “It was definitely a youth-based campaign. I think young people can make a difference through their voice and their activism.” Labranche is proud of his accomplishments and said while he’s been in office in New Hampshire, he hasn’t felt judged or marginalized due to his young age. “If anything, I have state representatives walking up to me saying they want to hear my opinion as a young elected official.” In Florida, Rep. Amber Mariano was the youngest legislator elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016 at 21. She sees the diversity of thought that comes with a difference in age as an asset. “Especially on the campaign side of things, most people are very excited to see a young, energetic person running for office to hopefully bring about some good things to the area,” she said. “I think it’s important in a representative form of government that you have as many different demographics represented in legislating and governing in general. It’s important to have young people, as well as middle-aged and old. Age diversity is important along with racial and other socio-economic diversity as well.” Mariano said that the role of a good representative is to speak for constituents.
“When we are legislating and doing things that will impact the entire state, you want to make sure you have people in the room that can speak up for whoever they represent, and what personal experiences they have.”
DID YOU know?
AGES OF GOVERNORS
In Arizona, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana and Nevada, the governor must be 25. In Ohio, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, the governor must be 18. In South Dakota, the governor must be 21. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is currently the nation’s youngest governor at 43 years old. Ralph Torres, governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, is the youngest governor of the territories at 42.
Voter engagement among young people was up in the last election. Research from Tufts Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement suggests that 52-55% of voting-eligible young people ages 18-29 cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election. “Using the same methodology and data from a week after the election in 2016, we had previously estimated that youth voter turnout in 2016 was 42-44%. We are seeing an increase in voter turnout from younger generations as well as engagement in advocacy.” — Lisa Giordano, executive director for the Association of Young Americans
PRIORITIES FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS
In all areas of government, more youthful leaders are impacting policy. Lisa Giordano, executive director for the Association of Young Americans, said the country is seeing an increase in young people running for office who are passionate about issues that most directly impact them. “Our main issue areas are higher education and student debt, climate change and health care,” Giordano said. “Many of the priorities that would improve our generations’ lives, such as free community college, as well as doubling the Pell Grant and important climate investments [...] All these priorities are currently on the chopping block.” The Association of Young Americans has 30,000 members across the country, and it represents people between the ages of 18 to 35 — a population that Giordano says has a great impact on policies. “Absolutely, we are making a difference,” she said. “Some of the major progressive policy changes that have been introduced and passed have been driven by youth activist movements.”
