TAC Blog

PHILADELPHIA — Wise County Judge J.D. Clark was sworn in Monday as the 2025-26 president of the National Association of Counties (NACo) during the association’s annual conference in Philadelphia. His wife, Leah, and their three daughters joined him on stage for the ceremony, with the oath of office administered by his eldest daughter, Claire.

Clark, who has served as Wise County judge since 2014, now leads NACo’s executive committee, representing 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs across the United States. He was elected NACo’s second vice president in 2023 and has held various leadership roles within the association over the past decade.

As president, Clark will preside over NACo board and executive committee meetings, appoint committee members and serve as the association’s chief spokesperson and public representative. He succeeds Sonoma County, California, Supervisor James Gore.

Each NACo president introduces a spotlight initiative for their term. In his inaugural address at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Clark announced his initiative, titled “County Storytellers.” The program will showcase best practices from counties of all sizes and draw inspiration from creative fields such as writing, film and music to help county officials enhance public engagement by sharing powerful stories about their work and communities.

“Stories still matter, whether a book, a poem, a speech, a song, whether delivered by a statesman, a filmmaker, an artist or a child, stories have shaped our world,” Clark said.

“And as county leaders, we are all storytellers. Stories help us cut through the noise, connect with our communities, and make an impact.”

A singer-songwriter himself, Clark closed his speech by performing an original song he wrote for the occasion, titled “Hold That County Line”:

And it’s a breed apart, a public servant's heart.

As for me and mine, we'll hold that county line.

Three thousand sixty-nine,

Hold that county line.

 A lifelong resident of Wise County, Clark began his public service at age 20 as a city council member in his hometown of Chico, later serving as mayor. He also was a junior high and high school teacher before becoming county judge.

Guided by the motto “Honoring the past, building the future,” Clark is balancing preservation and progress in Wise County, which borders rapidly growing Tarrant County. He is currently leading a major restoration of the county’s historic 1896 courthouse while preparing the region for significant population and infrastructure growth.

NACo presidents serve one-year terms. Joining Clark on the executive committee are Gore as Immediate Past President; First Vice President George Dunlap of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; Second Vice President Alisha Bell of Wayne County, Michigan; and four regional representatives.