| | James F. Grubiak General Counsel Tel: (404) 522-5022 ACCG Jim Grubiak 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1000 Atlanta, GA 30303 | Scan with your smartphone to download contact information. |
Professional Profile
James F. Grubiak is the General Counsel for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). As General Counsel, Jim provides legal support to the association in many capacities. He serves as assistant secretary to the Board of Managers as well as counsel to the Executive Director, the Board of Managers, the directors of retirement benefits board, the trustees of the interlocal risk management agency and pension programs and serves as a member of the ACCG Pension Fund Board of Trustees. In addition to those duties, Jim plays an important role in the policy development, advocacy and overall legislative effort of the association. Jim drafts legislation to advance the policy goals of the association, analyzes legislation proposed by state agencies, interest groups and legislators, and lobbies for passage, defeat or amendment of legislation impacting the ACCG platform or county governance in general. Jim is also active in developing educational programs for county commissioners, county staff and county attorneys, providing technical assistance to county commissioners, county attorneys and county staff, and preparing legal memoranda, model ordinances, and appellate court briefs in support of county positions.
Jim’s tenure at ACCG has afforded him the ability to serve as Staff Attorney, Legislative Director and now General Counsel for the association. Prior to becoming an employee of ACCG, Jim gained experience as a planner for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, community impact coordinator for military base expansions, chief of the economic development section of DCA and state director of the Appalachian Regional Commission program in Georgia.
Jim graduated received his Bachelors of Science in Economics degree from Auburn University where he also received a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning. Jim continued his education by completing his Juris Doctorate from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law.
| | Kelly Pridgen Assistant General Counsel Tel: (404) 522-5022 ACCG Kelly Pridgen 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1000 Atlanta, GA 30303 | Scan with your smartphone to download contact information. |
Professional Profile
Kelly Pridgen is the Assistant General Counsel to the Association County Commissioners (ACCG). In this role, she provides general legal support to ACCG in a number of different capacities. Kelly serves as counsel to the Executive Director and Board of Managers, as well as to the trustees of the workers compensation and health benefit programs. Kelly is also an asset in ACCG’s policy development and advocacy process as she drafts legislation to accomplish the policies of the association, analyzes proposed legislation, coordinates efforts with other interest groups, state agencies and legislators, and lobbies for the passage, defeat or amendment of legislation being tracked by ACCG. In addition to those duties listed above, Kelly assists in the development of educational programs for county commissioners, staff and county attorneys, prepares legal memoranda, model ordinances, and appellate court briefs in support of county positions and provides general legal technical assistance to member counties of the association.
Prior to returning to ACCG, Kelly served as Staff Attorney to the Douglass County Board of Commissioners in two separate stints from 1993-1997 and again from 2003-2008. As Staff Attorney, Kelly provided general legal support to Douglass County through serving as counsel to the Board of Commissioners, the Pension Board of Trustees, the Benefits Committee and other elected and appointed Douglass County officials and staff. In addition to those duties, she also prepared ordinances, local legislation, agenda items, reviewed contracts, assisted in land acquisition and the procurement of public works and other services.
Kelly graduated from the University of Michigan where she received a Bachelor of General Studies and the University of Georgia, College of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor. Kelly is happily married to Donald Pridgen with whom she shares two sons, Jack and Max.
| | Joe Scheuer Assistant General Counsel Tel: (404) 522-5022 ACCG Joe Scheuer 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1000 Atlanta, GA 30303 | |
Professional Profile
Joe Scheuer is Assistant General Counsel to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). In this role, he provides general legal support to ACCG in a number of different capacities. Joe serves as counsel to the Executive Director,the Board of Managers, and the trustees of the workers compensation and health benefit programs. Joe is also an asset in ACCG’s policy development and advocacy process as he puts his highly specialized legislative background to use in drafting bills and amendments to accomplish the policies of the association, analyzing proposed legislation, and coordinating efforts with other interest groups, and state agencies and legislators. In addition, Joe assists in the development of educational programs for county commissioners, staff, and county attorneys; prepares legal memoranda, model ordinances, and appellate court briefs in support of county positions; prepares weekly editions of Counties & the Law for county attorneys; and provides general legal technical assistance to member counties of the association.
Prior to joining to ACCG, Joe served for 34 years in the Office of Legislative Counsel, the legal department of the Georgia General Assembly, where he was the senior Deputy Legislative Counsel. His practice focus was local government law and state and local taxation and Joe served for 28 years as counsel to the House Committee on Ways & Means and to the Senate Finance Committee. Joe was also a staff member of the Code Revision Commission which published the Official Code of Georgia Annotated in 1982, the first complete update of the state code since 1933.
Joe graduated from Berry College where he received a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude and graduated from the University Of Georgia School Of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate.
| | Natalie Fitzgerald Legal Assistant Tel: (404) 522-5022 ACCG Natalie Fitzgerald 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1000 Atlanta, GA 30303 | Scan with your smartphone to download contact information. |
Performs Special Projects assigned by General Counsel and staff attorneys. Researches and analyzes law sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, treaties and legal codes. Creates and manages legal filing and retention system. Updates and coordinates filings to the State Ethics Commission. Maintain and reviews contracts. Read and summarize legal publications. Responsible for administrative needs for the Pension Board.
