County Connection

Washington State Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove joins County Connection to unpack the challenges and responsibilities of managing the state’s public lands during a time of fiscal constraint and climate change. From wildfire prevention and recreation access to trust lands and rural economies, this episode offers a candid look at how state and county priorities intersect on the ground. Re...

This week, Paul Jewell, Government Relations Director at the Washington State Association of Counties, sits down to chat with Commissioner Lisa Janicki to reflect on her work as a county commissioner and member of the WSAC Executive Team & Board of Directors. Recorded: November 19, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where w...

No, this isn't a late Halloween episode, this is the reality counties are facing and what your county should be doing to ensure their data is secure! This week, Derek Young, Executive Director at the Washington State Association of Counties, sits down to chat with Crowe to discuss all things online security! Learn more about Crowe. Recorded: October 28, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the off...

This week, Derek Young, Executive Director at the Washington State Association of Counties, sits down to chat with Michael Ablowich, Vice President of Client Servicing and Implementation for Three+One (Cashvest), about how they're helping counties around the country save (and earn) millions of dollars! Learn more about Three+One. Recorded: September 19, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the off...

This week, Paul Jewell, Government Relations Director for the Washington State Association of Counties, sits down to chat with Snohomish Councilmembers Jared Mead and Nate Nehring to talk about how to work with the other side of the aisle – even when you don't politically see eye-to-eye. Recorded: September 8, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Associ...

This week, Paul Jewell, Government Relations Director for the Washington State Association of Counties, sits down to chat with Jason Spadaro, Executive Director of the Washington Forest Protection Association to discuss forest management in Washington State. Recorded: July 2, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive int...

This week, Paul Jewell, Government Relations Director for the Washington State Association of Counties, sits down with Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope to discuss the state's looming energy crisis, what Lewis County is doing about it, and what they're doing to bring back the local economy. Recorded: July 3, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Assoc...

This week, Derek Young, Executive Director for the Washington State Association of Counties, sits down with Matthew Chase, CEO/Executive Director for the National Association of Counties (NACo), to discuss the work NACo does for Washington State at the federal level. Recorded: July 22, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where w...

This week, Paul Jewell, Government Relations Director for the Washington State Association of Counties, sits down (virtually) to chat with Derek Young, Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Counties, to discuss the crisis our state faces in funding our constitutional right to a public defender (Indigent Defense). Recorded: July 9, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the offici...

This week, Paul Jewell, Government Relations Director for the Washington State Association of Counties, sits down to chat about the next generation of leadership with Gavin Cruz, a Senior from Olympia High School's DECA program! Recorded: June 3, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shapi...

This week, Jaime Bodden, Managing Director at the Washington Association of Local Public Health Officials, and Kelsey Hulse, Contract Lobbyist at the Washington State Association of Counties, flip the script and ask Paul Jewell, Government Relations Director for the Washington State Association of Counties, about his highlights (and low-lights) of this year's session! Recorded: May 1, 2025 -------...

Join us as we chat with Brad Banks, Contract Lobbyist at the Washington State Association of Counties, as he shares how the legislative session went and what the budget looks like for counties in public safety and defense. Recorded: May 1, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the...

Join us as we chat with Brian Enslow, Policy Consultant for the Washington State Association of Counties, to learn how the state budget will affect counties. Recorded: March 1, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future of our communities. From budgets to public safety, infra...

Buckle up as we chat with Axel Swanson, Director at the Washington State Association of County Engineers, about how transportation fared during the 2025 Legislative Session, and what the future of our roads may hold. Recorded: May 1, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future...

Join us as we chat with Travis Dutton, Policy Coordinator for the Washington State Association of Counties, to learn how bills related to solid waste fared during this legislative session. Recorded: April 24, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future of our communities. From...

Join us as we chat with Jaime Bodden, Managing Director at the Washington Association of Local Public Health Officials, about how public health policy fared during this year's Legislative Session. Recorded: April 23, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future of our communiti...

Join us as we sit down to chat with Eric Ffitch, Executive Director at Washington Public Ports Association, to discuss the issues of power, planning, taxing, and others facing Washington's public ports. Recorded: April 22, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future of our com...

Join us as we sit down to chat with Travis Dutton, Policy Coordinator for the Washington State Association of Counties, to discuss the breaking news – the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill that just passed – and what that means for recycling in our state. Please Note : Travis indicated that the Paint EPR law does not charge consumers a separate fee; however, it does include a separat...

Join us as we sit down with Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser, as he sits down to discuss Thurston County's relatively new approach to public safety and defense with their Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. How it was formed, and how it's working to save the county money and help reduce recidivism. Recorded: April 10, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast...

Join us as we chat with Kelsey Hulse, Contract Lobbyist at the Washington State Association of Counties, about if affordable housing bills are being built with a solid foundation. Recorded: April 9, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future of our communities. From budgets t...

Join us as we chat with Jaime Bodden, Managing Director at the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials. This week, Jaime shares what's happening with public health funding and how FPHS can help stop the spread of measles. Recorded: April 9, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislat...

Join us as we chat with Brad Banks, Contract Lobbyist at the Washington State Association of Counties, about the intersection of public safety and behavioral health and how this can create issues on both sides of the aisle when passing legislation and the state budget. Recorded: April 2, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where...

Join us as we chat with Brian Enslow, Policy Consultant for the Washington State Association of Counties, to learn how Washington State creates its budget! Recorded: April 1, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future of our communities. From budgets to public safety, infrast...

Join us as we chat with Curtis Steinhauer, Policy Coordinator at the Washington State Association of Counties, about a bill that simply refuses to go down easy. While this bill does several things, none of them were a part of the originally introduced bill to speed up and clarify project and/or building permits ...so let's find out how it's survived so long and how WSAC is working on it! Recorded:...

Join us as we chat with Brad Banks, Contract Lobbyist at the Washington State Association of Counties, about what behavioral health priority bills passed the fiscal cut-off and whether that's a good thing or not! Recorded: March 18, 2025 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future...