Media Release

10 a.m.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) named Alachua County Commissioner Rodney J. Long the "Elected Official of the Year."  Long received the award at the March 19, 2009 event honoring "National Awareness of Social Workers Month." 

"It was an honor and a privilege to introduce our NASW Elected Official of the Year", NASW Secretary Jeannie Chandler said , "Commissioner Long's support of the citizens of Alachua County includes help to the poor, the homeless, the mentally ill, our children and to the betterment of the community at large."

The letter nominating Commissioner Long cited the following accomplishments:

• Initiated and current Chairman of the Entrepreneurial  Charter School Imitative
• Initiated Alachua County/Gainesville Homelessness Steering Committee
• Co-chairman Alachua County/City of Gainesville 10 year plan to end Homelessness
• President Select Committee on Medicaid Reform
• Vice Chairman of the Economic Development Sub-committee
• Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• Founder and President of the Martin Luther King Jr, Commission of Florida, Inc.
• Initiated and Current Chairman, Plan East Gainesville Planning Committee, Subcommittee
• Initiated the Alachua County Prescription Medicine Card

Speaking of the award Chandler said, "Commissioner Long displays the ethical principals as described by the NASW Code of Ethics:  Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of a Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity and Competence."

Also honored at the event were Richard Boudrot, NASW Citizen of the Year and Kimberly Williams, NASW Student of the Year

For more information, contact the Alachua County Communications Office at 352-374-5226.

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