Suwannee County District 5 County Commissioner Randy Hatch has been elected to serve for the next year as 2nd vice president of the Florida Association of Counties, a powerful lobbying group for the interests of Florida counties.

“I’m humbled at the level of and passionate support I received,” Hatch said this week upon returning from the FAC’s annual convention. “I was really stunned by the dedication of my supporters.”

Hatch was sworn in June 24 at the convention and his term will run for one year. No other Suwannee County Commissioner has served in this capacity nor held such a high office in the FAC. If Hatch moves up the ladder as expected, in three years he could become president of the FAC.

“Some of the things on my agenda are to expand services to members and to create more opportunities for the exchange of ideas,” Hatch said. He added he wants to help find solutions to common problems counties, both big and small, share across the state. “The vision I have is that governors will seek out this organization and it will be an organization to serve the people,” Hatch said. “This organization will be welcome in every House and Senate office. We should be a resource to the Legislature.” Hatch said counties deliver 95 percent of the service to the people of the state.

“I’ll be sitting on a board of directors that has one of the best staffs,” Hatch noted. The new head of the FAC is Chris Holley, a former Suwannee County coordinator.

In addition to his new position, Hatch was also elected to serve as secretary of the Small Counties Coalition (SCC) a group made up of 36 counties across the state that are similar to Suwannee County and have special needs due to their size. Hatch said SCC was formed to seek answers to small county problems.

Additionally, Hatch was recently appointed to serve on the North Central Florida Planning Council where he was also elected to serve on the NCFPC’s board of directors.m.