CSAC CEO Urges County Leaders to Drive Political Agenda By Emphasizing Constituents’ Personal Stories

Speaking at a moment of transformational change in how constituents get and understand their news, CSAC CEO Graham Knaus called on county leaders to shape political narratives by sharing personal stories about the people they represent.

“For counties to be more politically relevant as our world changes around us, we must drive the agenda on issues that matter,” Knaus told hundreds of county leaders Thursday at CSAC’s 2025 Legislative Conference. He emphasized this requires CSAC to change too, “transforming ourselves from an organization that is reactive to one that is proactive.”

That’s historically been outside the comfort zone of CSAC and many other state associations, Knaus noted.

“But as former IBM CEO Ginny Rometty put it, ‘Growth and comfort do not coexist,’” he said. “In other words, change requires strategic risk.”

Although he acknowledged he’s laid out this vision before, he emphasized that CSAC is now “moving from vision to execution.”

Knaus then laid out how CSAC is proactively advocating for the three priority issues for 2025 by:

• leveraging our AT HOME framework to craft a proof-of-concept pilot to address California’s housing and homelessness crises;
• laying out a disaster preparedness and response advocacy package that calls for enhanced disaster funding, streamlined rebuilding and stronger preparation;
• and working to shape the state’s response to prospective federal funding cuts, including the release of a brand new “Meeting the Mandate” guide that lays out the hundreds of requirements the state places on counties.

“Our ability to influence the governor and Legislature is greatest when it comes from you,” he told county leaders.

For example, Knaus recounted a story CSAC President and Inyo County Supervisor Jeff Griffiths told during visits to Capitol Hill and the White House during this spring’s National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference.

Inyo County has just one community hospital, and federal Medicaid cuts could force its maternity ward to shut down. That would force moms in labor to drive nearly four hours to give birth — including in emergencies.

“That’s a story that hits home, regardless of politics,” Knaus said. “It’s personal, relatable, and compelling. Because it’s not about politics. It’s about people.”

That’s why Knaus is encouraging county leaders to avoid diving into budget or staffing weeds when they talk with state lawmakers, media and constituents.

“Tell them a story about a person you represent, and tell them what’s really at stake,” he said. “That’s what drives the political narrative now. And that’s what we’ll need to move the governor and Legislature — on homelessness, on disasters, and on the state budget.”