New Hanover County Commissioners Rob Zapple and Jonathan Barfield, along with County Manager Chris Coudriet, have been appointed to multiple committees within the National Association of Counties (NACo), according to a county news release.

Through research and study with associated subcommittees, NACo committees "serve as advocates for local county governments in matters at the federal level," the release stated.

Appointments to NACo’s 31 different committees, caucuses, task forces and advisory boards are made on a yearly basis by the NACo president.

Barfield stated in the release, “Being able to collaborate with other local leaders from across this great nation to find common ground that helps us improve the quality of life for all our residents is a humbling opportunity. I look forward to my time on these committees and the work we will be able to do.”

Zapple has been asked to serve on two NACo committees. He will be a member of the Resilient Counties Advisory Board and vice chair of the Land Use Subcommittee, which is part of the Environment, Energy and Land Use Policy Steering Committee. Barfield has been selected as a member of the Transportation Steering Committee.

Coudriet will serve on the Healthy Counties Advisory Board, the Information Technology Standing Committee and the International Economic Development Task Force. He will also be vice chair of the Public Health and Healthy Communities Subcommittee, which is part of the Health Steering Committee.

Each of these committees will meet remotely monthly before convening in Washington D.C. for the NACo Legislative Conference in February 2023, and again at the NACo Annual Conference in July in Austin, Texas.