The Collin County Observer

Is it a job or a plum?

02/24/08

01:38:15 pm, by bill

, 345 words,

Categories: Observer Opinions, Politics

Is it a job or a plum?

Two very similar but very different election races highlight why I have nagging concerns with county officials being elected in partisan contests.

First in Travis County a 16 year incumbent Democrat, Tax Assessor and Collector Nelda Wells Spears is being challenged by a popular left-of-center political activist, Glen Maxey. Glen was a 10 year veteran of the Texas House of Representatives, but has spent the last few years working on organizing grass roots Democrats.

Why is he running for Tax Assessor, and trying to unseat an elected member of his own party? Best I can tell, he is looking for a steady paycheck and a reward for being such a great party stalwart.

Here in Collin County, we have a very similar situation. Long time Tax Assessor Kenneth Maun is in a primary battle with a well known Republican right-of-center activist, Karl Voigtsberger. Why is Voigtsberger running? In a candidates forum, I heard him say that that his friends thought he might be a good fit, he really wanted to run for public office and he was a loyal Republican.

Maxey is a teacher and Voigtsberger an engineer. The job of Tax Assessor Collector needs experience in management in accounting, finance or banking. Neither of these guys is qualified, yet both feel that their years of service to the "party" has earned them the right to the job.

Hogwash!

I think that most citizens want a Tax Assessor-Collector who understands the job, has creative ideas, and is capable of modernizing a large office operation. Both the Travis County and Collin County Tax offices are reasonably well run. Neither has been embroiled in scandal. Yet both have had problems and could use a major refit to move into the 21st century - offering online services, automated banking, etc.

I suspect voters in both counties would be open to giving serious consideration to a qualified candidate who offers a solid vision for transforming the Tax Collector's department.

Sadly, instead of attracting innovative talent, the job seems to be considered a prize plum, ripe for picking.

The citizens deserve better.

Bill

Permalink 2 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Glen Maxey [Visitor]

Clearly you haven't been watching this race in Travis County.

The incumbent has attended 12% of the Appraisal District Board Meetings since 2000 and rarely is at the office.

The Voter Registration office purged thousands of voters and the incumbent said it was the voters responsiblility to re-register.

I could go on and on... but you get the picture.

There's a lot an active person can do in these dusty offices.

Permalink 02/24/08 @ 14:31

Comment from: expo [Visitor]

Tax Assessor Kenneth Maun has been on the job for more than 24 years. Problems include poor morale in his office and past missing funds. Karl Voigtsberger, with his computer experience can improve the information found on the county tax website. I'd like to see the site improved, especially for the long and short account numbers.

I like Karl's idea that we do not write our checks payable to "Kenneth Maun" but to "Collin County Tax Assessor."

It's not Maun's money, it belongs to the county.

Permalink 02/28/08 @ 06:41

It is my hope that this forum will serve as an acute observer of Collin County government, leading to the return of the county to those it is supposed to serve.

I will post my opinions, fair analysis, news clippings that are relevant to local issues, and your comments.

To post your comment, you may register, or you may post anonymously. Comments will be reviewed before being placed online.

Comments that I consider inappropriate will be deleted, and the commentator warned. All I ask is that discussions remain civil and courteous. The standard for comments here is "common courtesy".

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Bill Baumbach

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The Collin County Observer

Is it a job or a plum?

02/24/08

Is it a job or a plum?

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