Commissioner Charles Hines completes comprehensive certification program for county board members

Course work totals 45 hours

Sarasota County Commissioner Charles D. Hines (center) accepts his Certified County Commissioner designation from Nick Place, dean and director of UF/IFAS Extension (left), and Charlotte County Commissioner and FAC President Christopher Constance. Image courtesy Sarasota County

Sarasota County Commissioner Charles D. Hines has earned the Certified County Commissioner (CCC) designation following his completion of a comprehensive program developed by the Florida Association of Counties (FAC), Sarasota County has announced.

Hines received the designation with 10 other county commissioners during an awards ceremony held earlier this summer at the FAC Annual Conference in Palm Beach County, a news release notes.

“CCC certification is not a requirement to serve as a county commissioner in Florida,” the release explains. “However, county commissioners may voluntarily enroll in the program and complete a series of courses totaling 45 hours. The coursework is designed to provide information and enhance skills relevant to a commissioner’s duties and responsibilities as an elected official,” the release adds.

“This certification provides our citizen electorate with valuable tools to assist them in their public service,” said FAC Executive Director Ginger Delegal in the release. “The more than 400 graduates of this program have shown an exceptional commitment to serving Florida’s counties.”

The CCC program coursework covers a variety of topics, such as ethics and the Sunshine Law, county government roles and responsibilities, county government structure and authority, financial management negotiating skills, economic development, and effective communication, the release notes. Completion of all coursework averages 12 to 18 months. The University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension service sponsors the program.

“I am honored to have taken part in this valuable training program, and I look forward to applying the skills I learned to better serve my constituents and the people of Sarasota County,” said Hines in the release.

Hines, who represents Sarasota County’s District 5, was elected to the commission in 2012 and re-elected in 2016.