Butler County Commissioner Jesse McWilliams has been honored with the Tenure in Office Award by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) for his 24 years of dedicated service. The award was presented during the ACCA’s 96th Annual Convention in August.

“Commissioner McWilliams is worthy of the gratitude of all Alabamians for his dedication to public service and his personal sacrifice,” said Sonny Brasfield, ACCA Executive Director. “Amid the extraordinary challenges county commission members face every day, Commissioner McWilliams has continuously served his constituents with honor and pride, and he deserves a pat on the back from everyone in Butler County.”

The Tenure in Office Award is presented annually by the ACCA to honor county commission members who have served at least 16 years, with additional recognition for every four years thereafter. McWilliams, first elected in 2000, has spent more than two decades working on economic development and employment in Butler County.

Reflecting on his time in office, McWilliams noted the challenges he faced in his early years.

“When I first got elected in 2000, we didn’t have any jobs yet,” McWilliams said. “Unemployment was around 18%. It’s been 24 years of basically a lot of involvement in a lot of different areas to try to help.” 

He also emphasized the importance of teamwork in local government. 

“Even though you have arguments and disagreements… I’ve never served with a commissioner that didn’t want the best for the citizens of the county,” he said.

The ACCA serves as the voice for all 67 counties in Alabama, advocating for improved county government services and providing educational and legal resources to county officials.