The "buddy system" seems to be the thing if you are getting into politics. Not long after County Judge Holstein was elected to office, County Attorney Owen started getting everything he wanted.

He had two employees that were being paid from the Hot Check Fund. When the Hot Check Fund was set up, it was supposed to pay its own way with the money he collected from the checks.

In 2004, he went to Commissioners Court and wanted three more employees for the Hot Check Fund and supposedly to collect other fines and court costs. And he then wanted all five put on the county payroll complete with insurance and pension rights, which he got.

With that, he needed more room in the courthouse, and he got that.

Next he wanted another collecting agency with six employees at a cost of $290,825 per year for their salaries.

After getting that approved and everything set up, he said he wasn't going to do it. Seems like once you get another office, then it is here to stay, so this was dumped on the County Clerk's and the County Treasurer's offices and they have three employees doing what Mr. Owen wanted five for. Does that tell you something about our County Attorney?

Now our County Attorney Owen gets money from the state, from the Hot Check Fund, from the county, and has his own private practice.

Now folks, these are your tax dollars!

Edith Rounsavall, Athens