Jeff Eslinger | County News Editor

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” – Sir Isaac Newton.

No organization or movement simply appears fully formed. There are countless giants whose vision provided the foundation on which the North Dakota Association of Counties was built.

Wayne Lamatta, former Dickey County Auditor, was among the earliest visionaries who saw the need for a whole-state organization to advocate for counties at the legislature, as well as to strengthen themselves through collaboration with other counties. Lamatta joined forces with County Commissioners Lenny Jacobs (Adams) to bring about what was referred to as the “Great Compromise” that kept the ND County Commissioners Association operating independently but also provided commissioner representation on the NDACo Board of Directors.

Andy Hagle (Griggs) and Ron Anderson (McKenzie) served as both legislators and County Commissioners, and were among the early champions to greatly advance NDACo’s legislative advocacy and education.

Kaye Braaten was not only among the first female county commissioners in North Dakota and was the first female NDCCA President, she was elected President of the National Association of Counties (NACo) in 1991, the only North Dakotan ever to serve as national president, and believed to be the first female NACo President. (See photo with President Bush)

In that same year, Mark Johnson, then Executive Director of NDACo, became president of the National Council of County Association Executives.

Eileen Mack, Burleigh County Superintendent of Schools, along with Morton County Commissioner Richard Bendish, pushed hard to expand NDACo’s services with a focus on developing non-dues revenue sources to allow for greater growth without pressuring dues paid by counties.

Karin Fischer (now Karin Boom), LaMoure County Clerk of Court, was instrumental in the often unpopular transition from county courts to the district court system. Karin herself was not a great fan of the idea but provided a wise and steady hand on the rudder of change during her presidency of NDACo through that difficult time.

Admittedly, an article like this will overlook as many as it recognizes. Readers are welcome to submit their stories and recollections to jeff.eslinger@ndaco.org to help us continue to tell this story as accurately and completely as possible.

To see this story with photos, please visit www.ndaco.org/county-news/may-june-2025-nd-county-news