ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
August 16, 2023

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. has been appointed as a member of the International Economic Development (IED) Task Force, the Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Steering Committee, and the Membership Standing Committee for the National Association of Counties (NACo).

The IED Task Force consists of 72 members and facilitates the exchange of information, ideas, and resources concerning county-level engagement in international economic development activities. Members serve a one-year term on the Task Force but can reapply each year and remain on the Task Force as long as they would like.

The Task Force typically holds 2 in-person meetings per year at NACo’s Legislative and Annual conferences and 2 conference calls per year. The meetings focus primarily on how counties can help their businesses export and how they can attract foreign investment and trade policy issues. The Task Force has brought in speakers from different federal agencies, foreign embassies, think tanks, and other organizations to also facilitate networking opportunities for members.

The LUCC Steering Committee is the premier forum for urban county leaders and is the voice for America’s metropolitan counties before Congress and the Administration. Comprised of county executives, governing board members, and other senior elected officials, the committee focuses on urban challenges and solutions, engages in peer-to-peer information exchanges, and informs national policy discussions.

The Membership Standing Committee actively recruits and retains member counties, parishes, and boroughs in order to increase NACo’s total membership. The term length for each committee is from July 2023- July 2024. “I’m extremely excited about these opportunities and look forward to bringing some fresh ideas on how to continue the growth that Rockdale County is experiencing,” Chairman Nesbitt said.

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ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
August 7, 2023

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – The National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) has recognized Rockdale County Public Relations Department with five awards highlighting their works in digital
media and public education. The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen communication with the community. The following media projects were awarded:

• The New Rockdale County Website – Meritorious – Electronic Communications – Specialized Websites
• Rockbridge Road Reopening – Excellence – Campaigns – Public Safety
• We Are PR – Superior – Audio Visual – Short Video
• Thank You SPLOST – Superior – Campaigns – General Information
• Granade Sidewalk – Superior – Campaigns – Public Safety

“Rockdale County Public Relations is proud to be recognized for its hard work and creativity. Our team strives to educate, inform, and keep open channels of communication with our stakeholders and community while also telling the stories that make this community great. Being recognized on a national level among peers in our industry is a true honor and further pushes us to provide excellence in the works we produce,” said Melisa Mims, Director of Public Relations.

The National Association of County Information Officers was founded in 1966. This organization aims to unite government communicators from counties and state associations nationwide. With 192 submissions, it proved to be the most competitive year.

For more information or a list of all winners, visit: https://www.nacio.org

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ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

August 4, 2023

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host the biannual Rockin Women in Rockdale event on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 3:00 P.M. at the Costley Mill Event Center. This event celebrates remarkable women who have made significant contributions to our community. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor and recognize these incredible women!

Do you know any fantastic women who rock? Nominate them as a candidate for Rockin’ Woman in Rockdale! Visit the county website at www.rockdalecountyga.gov/public-relations-department/ to fill out a nomination form.

The criteria are as follows:

• The woman must be a Rockdale County resident, work in Rockdale County, or own a business in Rockdale County.
• The woman must be at least 18 years of age.
• The woman must not be a previous recipient of the Rockin Women in Rockdale award.

Residents must include a written explanation and brief bio of the nominee when submitting nominations. The description should highlight the woman’s impact or contributions to the Rockdale County community.

Let us celebrate the remarkable women who have shown outstanding leadership, business skills, and dedication to their work and community. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. Help us recognize their contributions to the county’s success by nominating a Rockin Woman today.

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ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

August 3rd, 2023

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – The Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, has declared that the audit of Rockdale County’s election infrastructure, including both software and hardware, has been completed successfully. This was done in preparation for the upcoming municipal elections in 2023 and the Presidential elections in 2024.

In coordination with the Rockdale County election office, the Secretary of State’s office recently conducted health checks of the voting system, finding that Rockdale County’s election infrastructure remains secure, unaltered, and fully functioning as Georgia heads into a significant election cycle.

“We are happy to hear that our voting system is secure,” Department of Elections Director Cynthia Willingham states, “Hats off to the Board of Elections staff for their work in ensuring the security of our voting system, and we remain committed to prioritizing transparency, integrity, and security. The Board of Elections has the crucial responsibility of ensuring that our voters’ votes are accurately cast.”

These health checks are in conjunction with Secretary Raffensperger’s Four-Point “Secure the Vote” Plan for the 2024 election. That plan includes:

Testing before the election (Logic and Accuracy Testing)

Every piece of voting equipment in all 159 counties is tested to ensure each contest is voting properly by testing every candidate and ballot position on the Ballot Marking Devices and that all scanners are reading ballots properly.

Testing during the election (Parallel Monitoring)

Live election equipment will be randomly selected and tested during the active voting period, every day of voting from the start of early voting through Election Day. This testing will detect any active, ongoing threat.

Voter review and accountability

Since 2020, Georgia voters could review their ballot for accuracy before submitting it for tabulation. In 2020, the University of Georgia conducted a study of Georgia’s live elections and found that more than 80% of Georgia’s voters review their ballots.

Testing after the election (Risk Limiting Audits)

With the passage of HB 316 and SB129, Georgia now has robust post-election audit procedures in place to detect any anomalies in the outcomes of elections.

These election equipment health checks are part of the greater election security initiative launched by the Secretary of State Raffensperger’s office to administer the most secure elections in the Country. Georgia’s election system consists of multiple layers of security, robust audit procedures, and thorough function and diagnostic testing before any election. The Secretary’s top priority is election security, with 100% voter-verified paper-based elections, 100% photo ID, and a 100% commitment to accurate and trusted elections.

Additionally, the Secretary of State’s office is partnering with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to ensure that all 159 county election offices are safe, secure, and held to the highest physical security standards possible.

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