Jeff May appointed new Collin County Auditor

by Bill Baumbach of The Collin County Observer

From a Collin County press release:

(McKINNEY, Texas) – The Collin County Board of District Judges today appointed Jeff May as Collin County Auditor, effective Sept. 1, as Don Cozad retires after serving as Auditor for the last 14 years.

The County Auditor serves as a check on the integrity of financial operations of other county offices, protects county assets, and maintains accurate financial and accounting records. The Auditor is an appointed position that is renewed every two years by a majority vote of state District Judges here.

Mr. May’s appointment took place this morning during a Board of District Judges meeting, state District Judge Chris Oldner said. Mr. May has worked in the Auditor’s Office and the county’s Budget Department during his 14 years with the county, and will oversee a staff of 30 employees.

Mr. Cozad has served as Auditor since 1995, and will retire on Aug. 31.

“We want to congratulate Jeff on his appointment and wish Don Cozad well as he transitions into a much deserved and well-earned retirement,” said Judge Oldner.

I suspect few are surprised that the district judges appointed May. He was the logical choice, especially given that it would be almost impossible to recruit from outside the county. May is well regarded by his fellow county employees, and he has extensive experience in both the Auditor's and Budget offices. He is seen as less confrontational than his predecessor, Don Cozad.

I would guess that the district judges had very few applications from first rate auditors from outside the county. After all, the commissioners court tried to financially ruin the previous auditor. After the commissioners sued their auditor, Mr. Cozad found himself with over $100,000 of legal debt that the county refused to pay.

The commissioners lost every single case and appeal they filed against Don Cozad, incurring over $300,000 in legal fees in a futile effort to intimidate an auditor who is supposed to be independent of the commissioners court.

Mr. Cozad has now been paid as part of a negotiated settlement with the county commissioners court.

The Collin County Observer wishes Mr. May good luck in his dealings with our elected commissioners.

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kbarber, says:

Don Cozad served Collin County well during his years as county auditor as did his predecessor, Pasco Parker. I was privileged & honored to work with both and each exemplified the professionalism and character of a Texas County Auditor. I am sure Mr. May will follow as well. The story was very good, however I must make a comment concerning the statement about Mr. Cozad being "confrotational". I say Mr. Cozad honorably and ethically dealt with the confrontations that were thrust upon him. He did not seek out the disagreements, he only sought to meet the requirements of the laws of the state and to provide the necessary assurances that the operations of the county were in compliance of the laws. We each have a job to do and when we face issues that would threaten our duties and responsibilities we can do one of two things- 1. Retreat under pressure leaving character and ethics in the dust and cowardly let wrong trample right. 2. As has Mr. Cozad and others, stand firm against a minority view of intense and unfounded criticism, even to the degree of personal and professional attacks, to do the job as required of us by the law and by the public we serve. Confrontation is nothing Mr. Cozad provoked, he merely stood his ground, and the ground of the law, against the confrontations. To call Mr. Cozad "confrontational" is akin to calling the United States confrontational after Pearl Harbor. The citizens of Collin County and all County Auditors owe Don a debt of gratitude for his courage and persistence where weaker men may have failed. It is now necessary to support Mr. May as he too will be faced with issues and may he also face them with the same conviction and sense of service as did Don. Sincerely, Keith Barber Nacogdoches County Auditor