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Wayne County Commission Vice-Chair Alisha Bell's trip to the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2015 Annual Conference & Exposition, held July 10-13 in Charlotte, N.C., netted her several leadership positions.

Bell, D-Detroit, who has been an active member of NACo for four years, was named by NACo's incoming president to one of 10 at-large board positions, a first for a Wayne County official. She also was elected president-elect of Women of NACo, and first vice president of the National Organization of Black County Officials. She also serves as vicechair of NexGen, a NACo group for up and coming leaders

"I am truly honored to be selected to one of the 10 at-large board positions," said Bell, who represents the Commission's 7th District, covering part of Detroit's west side. "I look forward to representing Wayne County on issues that affect all of us and have a say on policies spreading all across the country."

Bell is a member of NACo's Justice and Public Safety Committee and is committee sub-chair for juvenile justice. In that role, she moderated a juvenile justice panel session.

Bell said another conference highlight was a speech by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, a former Charlotte mayor, on the importance of Congress approving a comprehensive road repair initiative.

Bell is in her seventh term as a Wayne County commissioner, dating to 2003, and third term as vice-chair of the Commission, as selected by her peers. She serves on three committees: Ways and Means; Health and Human Services; and Public Safety, Judiciary and Homeland Security.

According to its 2013-14 annual report, NACo serves 2,279 of the country's 3,069 counties, or nearly 75 percent. Founded in 1935, it assists counties "in pursuing excellence in public service to produce healthy, vibrant, safe and resilient counties. NACo promotes sound public policies, fosters county solutions and innovation, promotes intergovernmental and public-private collaboration and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money," according to its mission statement