Beasley Encourages County Leaders to ‘Re-engage’ at 2024 Annual Conference

County leaders from across South Carolina convened at the end of July to share ideas, discuss issues impacting their counties and learn about potential solutions to common problems. These leaders gathered for the 2024 South Carolina Association of Counties Annual Conference and Institute of Government, a dynamic educational experience where participants from the state’s 46 counties can learn from each other and share common challenges and opportunities.

This year’s conference featured speakers from the National Association of Counties and the Wounded Warrior Program and a keynote address from former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley.

“It’s quite remarkable,” Beasley said, commenting on South Carolina’s status as one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. He also emphasized the need for county leaders to “re-engage and be engaged” with their constituents and their communities.

“Governance matters,” he said. “When I see men and women like you from all walks of life coming together, it gives me hope.”

The former governor also shared his experience with the World Food Programme (WFP), which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2020. He told the audience of more than 400 county officials gathered that the life lessons he learned through his experience with the WFP can be applied to county and state government.

Beasley highlighted the difficult decisions that a lack of funding or resources can force leaders to make, a common challenge faced by many county leaders who often are forced to do more with less. He also stressed the importance of upstream intervention.

“The root cause is where we should focus,” he said, emphasizing the need for leaders to slow down and work together to provide a solution for the single systemic issue rather than spending time and energy addressing dozens of symptomatic issues.

Beasley also encouraged those gathered to never stop working to make their counties and their state better.

“I don’t go to bed at night thinking of the children we saved,” he said of his work with the WFP. “I go to bed broken-hearted about the children we couldn’t reach.” Beasley also highlighted the work still left to do to reach the underserved populations across South Carolina. “The work is not done.”

While there is much to do, there is also always hope, according to Beasley. Every effort, no matter how small, can make a difference.

“All the darkness in the world cannot put out the light of one little match,” he said.

The 2024 Annual Conference also celebrated more than 100 county officials who graduated from the Institute of Government for County Officials, Levels I and II.

The general session also included  speakers from the National Association of Counties and the Wounded Warrior Program.

The event closed with a reception featuring a passing of the gavel from 2023-24 SCAC President and Pickens County Council Vice Chairman Roy Costner III to Allendale County Council Vice Chairman William E. Robinson, who was elected SCAC’s 2024-25 president.