By Kate Kimmel
When Alyson McCullough talks about leadership, she rarely frames it as authority. Instead, she talks about relationships, preparation and communication — the steady, often unseen work that happens long before a vote is cast or a gavel comes down.
Appointed chair of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 8, McCullough is keenly aware of the shoes she’s stepping into. She credits past chairs with setting a high bar, calling former Chair A.M. Huppman a “phenomenal chairman” and praising him and his predecessor as clear, concise executive leaders. Those examples, she said, helped define the culture of the board, one built on professionalism and mutual respect.
Now, serving as chair, McCullough sees the role as both a responsibility and an opportunity.
“I think now is a great opportunity, as madam chair, to have a unique reflection of a population that hasn’t been represented before,” she said.
Unlike some local governments, Nassau County’s chair does not wield unilateral power. Board priorities are set collaboratively, typically during an annual winter workshop where commissioners agree on goals for the year ahead. McCullough believes that structure is a strength.
“In Nassau, the chair doesn’t have that single power to set priorities, which is a good thing,” she said. “You always want a balance of power.”
Her stated goals for the year ahead are straightforward but ambitious: bringing clarity, communication and stability to county government. For McCullough, that starts with how decisions are explained to the public.
One concern she hears frequently from residents is that items appear on meeting agendas with little notice, leaving them feeling shut out of the process. McCullough acknowledges the frustration but says transparency is more layered than many realize.
“There are multiple levels involved in providing transparency,” she said. “It’s not just the board. Sometimes we’re at the mercy of other processes and timelines.”
That’s why she views transparency and education as inseparable. During commission meetings, she often uses her comments to explain the constitutional and long-term consequences of a vote — not to justify it, she said, but to make sure residents understand how decisions are made.
Behind those explanations is a significant amount of preparation. McCullough said she routinely spends long hours researching policy, comparing Nassau County’s approach to growth and housing with neighboring counties like St. Johns and Duval.
Growth, particularly along State Road 200, remains one of the county’s most contentious issues. McCullough said residents on the west side often feel neglected, but she hopes to reframe that narrative through education.
Many of the amenities residents associate with Yulee, she explained, were built by private developers, not taxpayer dollars. Growth tends to cluster along major corridors, while rural protections are preserved elsewhere under the county’s legally binding comprehensive plan.
Looking ahead to 2026, McCullough is particularly excited about the county’s work on the comprehensive plan, a process that only comes around every few years and gives residents a rare chance to directly shape long-term policy. The timing also coincides with a historic milestone: America’s 250th birthday.
“I’m so excited to lead the BOCC through America’s 250th birthday,” she said. “What an exciting time to be an American citizen.”
As a young mother and former single parent who put herself through school, McCullough sees her role as chair as something her children, and others, can learn from.
“I am the example of the American dream,” she said. “If you work hard, you really can do it.”
That belief fuels her approach to public engagement. McCullough doesn’t shy away from criticism — in fact, she welcomes it.
“I love it when residents call and chew me out,” she said with a laugh. “If they aren’t calling me, they aren’t paying attention.”
For McCullough, every phone call or message is a chance to educate, and every conversation is a sign of a healthy democracy. She encourages residents to stay involved, especially at the local level, where decisions can most directly affect daily life.
“Education is the one thing that can’t be taken from you,” she said. “With education, you have the ability to make informed decisions and change the trajectory of your community.”
As she steps into the chair role, McCullough describes the year ahead as an exciting one, both for the board and for the county she serves.
“It’s going to be an exciting year,” she said. “And I’m grateful for the board’s vote of confidence.”
kkimmel@nassaunewsline.net
