Commissioner Lane Lynchard Receives the Presidential Advocacy Award
Awards Commissioner Lane Lynchard with the Presidential Advocacy Award
–Lynchard honored for his efforts to ensure passage of the federal RESTORE Act-
The Florida Association of Counties has presented Santa Rosa County District 5 Commissioner Lane Lynchard with the Presidential Advocacy Award. The Presidential Advocacy Award is presented to those commissioners who show a commitment to protecting local control and advocating on behalf of home rule.
Commissioner Lynchard was recognized for being an invaluable asset to FAC and their mission to preserve and protect home rule, specifically for his commitment to the passage of the federal RESTORE Act. Once placed into law, the act will ensure funds are available to offset both the environmental and economic damage to citizens and businesses in the Florida Panhandle. The RESTORE Act is a bill based on the fundamental principal that fines assessed to BP and the other responsible parties from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010 should be directed to the region most impacted.
Commissioner Lynchard responded “I am honored to receive the 2012 Presidential Advocate Award for my work on the RESTORE Act. I never imagined that I would find myself standing in the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. arguing the merits of the RESTORE Act for our region, as I did this past February. I will continue to work for the act, and for our region.”
“It is public servants like Commissioner Lynchard that recognize full recovery from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill could take years,” said FAC Executive Director Chris Holley, “His efforts to help pass the RESTORE Act will ensure that monies BP is fined go to those communities directly impacted and not the general treasury.”
The Presidential Advocacy Award is given annually to those commissioners from around the state that take the time to advocate state and federal legislators in Tallahassee or at home to protect the ideal that government closest to the people governs best.
For 80 years, the Florida Association of Counties or FAC has represented the diverse interests of Florida’s counties, emphasizing the importance of protecting home rule – the concept that government closest to the people governs best. The Florida Association of Counties helps counties effectively serve and represent Floridians by strengthening and preserving county home rule through advocacy, education and collaboration.
