Wood County Treasurer Becky Burford has announced she will not seek a fourth term in the 2022 election. Burford has served as county treasurer since 2011, after serving in the county auditor’s office in 1983 part-time which led to assistant auditor for 14 years and later appointed as county auditor from 1998 to 2008 by the district judges.  

With the completion of this term Dec. 31, 2022, she will have served 35 years on the county’s financial team. During this time, she became a certified public accountant, as well as certified internal auditor, along with completing her continuing education training for her roles as investment officer and treasurer.

She says it has been a win-win time of service and is very appreciative of the opportunity to continue to serve her county.

“However after much analysis, I have decided that it is time to plan transitioning out of my service to Wood County,” she said. “It has been an absolute honor to serve my county for this unbelievable length of time afforded to me. The opportunities to learn and grow benefited me both professionally and personally, and the opportunities have been endless. My endeavor was to a put them to practical use.”

“I have met so many great people across this state,” she said. “I had the opportunity to serve a few years on the State County Treasurer’s Executive Team and Texas Association of County’s Investments Advisory Committee, but commitments locally in the office was the priority at that time. So my focus was to take care of Wood County treasurer’s office over the last five years rather than continue the statewide commitment.

“I am proud of my various team members throughout the years and appreciate their diligent work and accomplishments to keep Wood County at its best. I learn many life’s lessons from them. My husband and I were raised in Wood County, educated in Wood County,  raised our family  in Wood County  and even ran a business for a short time. Wood County is naturally a great part of me and my family,” Burford noted. “My service to Wood County is my service to the community I hold dear. I will continue to serve the county for the remainder of my obligations as county treasurer.”

Burford recalls in 1983 when former County Auditor V.C. Blalock, a highly-respected leader in Wood County, came to her storefront which was within walking distance of the courthouse.

“I was surprised by his visit, yet he knew I previously applied for a county position in another department and did not get it a few years back,” Burford said. “As he was planning his transitioning out plan, he was interested in me working part-time in the auditor’s office which at that time was just him, Carolyn Saxon and Jane Herring. He knew Wood County was growing and changing even in the ‘80s, especially with computers being introduced to the workplaces. On his visit, he stated the fact, ‘You never know where it might lead.’ And 38 years later, his foresight for looking out for the best of the county still influences my work today. I appreciate the opportunity that was given to me back then and each day to serve Wood County. Then there was a legacy team in leadership such as Lee Williams, V.C. Blalock, Jim Ewing, Sid Cox, Curtis Cox, Martha Bridges, Jo Anna Nelson, Fred Morrow and Harold Galloway to name a few from that generation.”

Burford summed up her years of service, “Doing what was best and willingness to learn led me forward in my service all these years. I believe my stepping aside to allow for new leadership in this role is doing my best for Wood County. I hope that Wood County is better because of my service.”