In a June 23 memorandum to the Board of Supervisors, County Clerk/Auditor-Controller Pam Cochrane informed the board of her intention to retire from the position which she has held for nearly 15 years.
“After much thought and reflection, I’ve decided that as much as I enjoy my job and those with whom I work, it is time for me to be able to spend more time with my family,” she said.
It's a decision she said she arrived at with “mixed emotions and a heavy heart,” and some reservations. Nevertheless, she believes it's time to make the transition to retirement.
Cochrane intends to retire from county service effective Oct. 15, which she said will give the board time to appoint her replacement.
She said her staff is well-equipped to continue without her, and she told the board she will work to make sure the transition is a smooth one.
She's recommending Assistant Auditor-Controller Cathy Saderlund be appointed to succeed her.
Altogether, Cochrane said she has worked for the County Auditor-Controller’s Office for more than 31 years.
The county clerk/auditor-controller's job “is one of the most demanding jobs in County government,” and one which Cochrane said requires her to work many extra hours.
As auditor-controller, Cochrane serves as the county's chief financial officer. Her department's Web page said the office provides accounting, auditing and financial services to all county departments, as well as numerous special districts, the Lake County Redevelopment Agency, the Lake County Office of Education and any other agency with funds deposited into the county treasury.
Her county clerk functions include issuing such documents as marriage licenses and fictitious business name statements, and dealing with process servers, notaries, unlawful detainer and powers of attorney, according to the county's Web site.
During Cochrane's tenure, the department received the Government Finance Officers Association's “Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting” for eight separate years and also has received the State Controller’s Office's “Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting” many times.
She said her office has successfully implemented a new property tax system, implemented programs for staff skills development and evaluation of procedures for strengthening internal controls, implemented a new financial system in compliance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 34, and developed desk procedures for all staff, all of whom have been cross trained for coverage.
“There have been many opportunities over the years to work elsewhere,” Cochrane told the board.
“The fact I have not taken advantage of any of these prior opportunities can be credited to my staff and the awesome working relationship I have with Kelly Cox, County Administrator, and his staff.”
Cochrane said Cox and his staff “have always let me do my job unobstructed.”
She also thanked the county's voters for their confidence in her and for allowing her to hold the office.
“It has been a rewarding experience for which I will always be deeply honored and grateful,” she wrote to the board.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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