2008 in review: Why I write the Collin County Observer

by Bill Baumbach of The Collin County Observer

2008's Top Ten reasons why there is a Collin County Observer. Most of these stories were first covered here, a few were only covered here.

10. Commissioners forcing the resignation of the Teen Court Coordinator because he was gay.

9. Commissioners refuse to enact an Equal Employment Opportunity Policy, shortly before they force the gay guy out.

8. Lovejoy ISD fighting Open Records requests, banning a parent and firing a teacher.

7. District Judge Charles Sandoval pushing experimental drugs on probationers.

6. Commissioners sitting quietly while Commissioner Jerry Hoagland rants against A-rabs and Indians.

5. Judge Mark Rusch issuing search warrants against the defense attorney in a capital case, and then refusing to recuse himself.

4. Commissioners awarding, without competitive bid, over a million dollars in federal grant money to the son of Sam Johnson for Fusion Center software.

3. DA Roach fighting against new trial of defendant sentenced to death in a trial conducted by a judge and DA who are playing coochie-coochie in secret.

2. Commissioners spending $300,000 to sue the Auditor, losing the suit twice, and still appealing.

1. County pushing for SH 121 tolling only to have the Attorney General refuse to allow the county to get any of the $2 billion in toll funds it was promised.