ARVADA, Colo.—The nation’s leading special district advocates and stakeholders gathered Friday to formally establish the American Association of Special Districts (AASD) – America’s leading independent nonprofit organization with a mission to unite, strengthen, and advance special districts across the country.
With AASD’s formal organization, the Association will begin taking action toward fulfilling its mission through capacity-building at the local, state, and regional levels; and facilitating a robust network of trusted professional service and governance resources for special districts.
Further, AASD will now formally begin leading academic and research efforts to directly address root causes of why the nation’s 35,000+ special districts – the most common form of local government – are the most misunderstood.
Be part of the next chapter for America’s special districts.
Click here to Check out AASD’s Founding Trial Membership.
Eight special district leaders from across five states were seated as AASD’s founding board members, altogether representing different types of special districts. Each leader brings a diverse perspective on outstanding needs and trending issues impacting special districts’ ability to provide efficient, accountable, and trusted “hyperlocal” public services. The Founding Board approved bylaws and further established chartered committees to foster member engagement in Association activities.
The American Association of Special Districts is proud to announce the following members of the Founding Board of Directors:
- Sara Carroll, AZ Districts Solutions | President, Region II Director
- Chris Knotz, CommonGround AI | Vice President; Research, Academic, and Data Director I
- Carol Shrock, Thunderbird (Ariz.) Irrigation District | Secretary, Irrigation/Flood Control Director
- Desmond LeBlanc, Lakeshore Villages (La.) Master Community Development District | Treasurer, Housing/Community Development/Broadband Director
- Chief Mary Dalton, Arizona Fire & Medical Authority | Emergency Services & Public Safety Director
- Erica Richardson, Benbrook (Texas) Library District | Library Director
- Jonathan Roach, Roach & Associates, PLLC | Region V Director
- Corey Torres, Tehachapi Valley (Calif.) Recreation & Park District | Park & Recreation Director
The Board of Directors selected Cole Arreola-Karr (Karr Advocacy Strategies) to lead AASD as its Executive Director, and further selected Evan Kersten (GovFin) as AASD’s Research, Academic, and Data (RAD) Director.
AASD Professional & Governance Resources: A Direct Benefit
AASD’s Professional Network is the platform for trusted professionals providing services to (or seeking to expand into) the special districts’ sector of local government.
Professional development, governance resources, and best practices for local government are altogether the major direct benefits AASD’s special district members will receive. For these resources, AASD offers programming and connections with AASD’s Professional Network – a platform for special districts to connect with trusted professional service providers.
AASD will coordinate delivery of presentations focused on governance issues, trending topics, and professional needs through six in-person regional Special District Summits, up to 24 virtual presentations, organization of local special district workshops, and delivery of a biweekly newsletter highlighting national issues and trends for the special district perspective.
Professional service providers (banking, municipal finance, human resources, legal counsel, etc.) interested to connect with AASD to narrow the Business-2-Government gap that exists for special districts in many regions across the nation are invited to join AASD as a Founding Trial Member. Click here or contact cole@americasdistricts.org.
AASD’s Board of Directors also approved the 2025 dues schedule for the AASD Professional Network. Professional service providers will be offered a Founding Member benefits package upon completion of a three-month trial. Tiered membership ranges from $1,000 to $35,000 and includes engagement with AASD Members.
Connecting Special District Leaders, In-Person, with Regional Summits
Further, two AASD Regional Summits have been set. Special district stakeholders from across the South are invited to attend and participate at the following two events:
AASD Southern Special Districts Summit
Harbor Center | Slidell, La.
Thursday, April 3, 2025
RSVP Here
Registration: $15 per AASD Member | $50 for non-member District Stakeholders
AASD Mid-America Special Districts Summit
Springfield-Greene County Library District – Springfield, Mo. |
Friday, April 25, 2025
RSVP here
Special Districts Invited to Join as AASD Founding Members
Finally, the AASD Board of Directors approved the 2025 Dues Schedule for special districts, based on annual revenue, beginning at $50 per year and no higher than $1,505 for the largest of districts. The 2025 Dues Schedule is located at left.
AASD’s Board of Directors approved a Founding Membership benefits package for members who give AASD a trial run at no cost, who engage with early Association programs and offer constructive feedback. Founding Special District Members will receive a 40 percent discounted lifetime dues and recognition as a “Founding Member,” and special districts associations joining AASD will be granted a 20 percent discount for life. Click here to join at no cost with no risk for three months as an AASD Trial Founding Member.
Click here to learn more about AASD Membership options for special districts, elected/appointed officials and staff of special districts, associations, businesses, local government partners, and retired special district officials.
Special Districts Leading the Charge – Leadership Opportunities
With this announcement, the AASD Board of Directors places a call for leadership to fill seven open special district board positions, four regional board seats, and two research/academic/data stakeholder leads. With each district board position comes the opportunity to lead one of 12 AASD Special District Divisions. Positions are also open to guide AASD’s research projects, advocacy and coalition building efforts, governance education programs, and more. Interested in leading? Click here to submit your interest.
A group of special district stakeholders founded AASD in August 2024 to fulfill the need for a strong association to address special districts’ prevalent hardships to access state and federal funding resources, raise awareness of the critical services districts provide to millions of Americans, and to close districts’ gaps in access to professional services for local governments. The American Association of Special Districts is not-for-profit corporation registered in the State of Colorado.
Click here to Join AASD as Founding Trial Member at no cost.
For more information, visit www.americasdistricts.org and email contact@americasdistricts.org.