Where in the world is Collin County auditor Don Cozad?

by Bill Baumbach of The Collin County Observer

It's no surprise that there is little love between the Collin County Auditor Don Cozad and the Collin County Commissioners' Court.

Since the commissioners filed suit against their auditor last year, Cozad, who by all accounts hates confrontations, has not attended many meetings of the commissioners' court.

Late last year, Cozad announced that he would retire on September 30. Since his announcement, he has rarely been seen at court. That's a shame.

The Collin County Auditor has a legal duty to protect and report on the financial health of the county. His office sends several reports to the commissioners' court every month. One of these reports is the Quarterly Investment Report (PDF).

This report details over $344 million in operating and bond fund investments. The Investment Report has been on the commissioners' agenda for the last 2 meetings of the court. Both times, Commissioner Shaheen asked if Cozad or a member of his staff could explain the report. Both times, there was no one at court who could answer questions about $344 million of the taxpayers' money.

That's unacceptable.

I understand Mr. Cozad's reluctance to attend the court sessions. After all these commissioners not only sued him, but tried their very best to ruin him financially and professionally. (Thankfully justice was done and the Auditor prevailed.)

Maybe Mr. Cozad needs to wear a garland of garlic and carry a cross and wooden stake to protect himself at court. If so, he needs to do it...or whatever it takes to be at court and represent the interests of the citizens of Collin County.