In a unanimous vote, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Gilbert Town Councilman Eddie Cook as the next Maricopa County Assessor.
“Eddie Cook is a dedicated public servant who has proven he puts constituents, and not himself, first,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman, District 4. “His background in both government and business, especially as it relates to technology, makes him a great fit for this important position,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman, District 4.
“In Gilbert, we’ve been able to show how a local government can be transformed to operate like a billion-dollar corporation,” said Cook. “I look forward to coming into this excellent, high performance environment and building a team culture focused on outstanding service to Maricopa County residents.”
Cook cannot be officially sworn in as Assessor until the Town of Gilbert accepts his resignation. Cook stated publicly today he will resign at his final council meeting on February 18.
“I would like to thank all the applicants for their willingness to serve,” said Vice Chairman Jack Sellers, District 1. “I believe Mr. Cook is the right man for the job. His professional and governmental experience will allow him to hit the ground running.”
Cook has served on the Gilbert Town Council for the past nine years while also working in the private sector. Since 2002, Cook has served in a leadership position for a technology company that provides cloud-based data services to Fortune 100 companies. He has also served on various boards and commissions including the Arizona State Information Technology Authorization Committee, which reviews some of the state’s largest IT projects.
Board members expect Cook to provide leadership and guidance on a high-profile IT project within the Assessor’s Office called MARS.
“Eddie Cook is the right leader at the right time and the public can feel confident in his commitment to exceptional customer service,” said Supervisor Steve Chucri, District 2. “During his time on the Gilbert Town Council, he not only helped Gilbert advance its business practices, he also helped build a stronger organizational culture.”
“Along with years of public service experience, Mr. Cook brings integrity and intelligence to the Assessor’s Office,” said Supervisor Bill Gates, District 3. “I look forward to working with him to provide excellent customer service to the taxpayer while maintaining fiscal responsibility in the office.”
The Assessor position has been vacant since January 8. By state law, the Board of Supervisors is responsible for filling any vacancy. Under state law, the appointee had to be a Maricopa County resident over the age of 18 as well as a registered Republican. The Board began accepting applications in mid-January. Completed application packets for all the applicants were posted on the county website for the public to review. Supervisors interviewed five of the candidates this month before voting today to appoint Cook.
“Ed Cook’s background in public service makes him the ideal person to fill the position of Assessor,” said Steve Gallardo, District 5. “Ed will provide much-needed leadership and integrity to the office.”
Cook will serve out the remainder of the term and plans to run for the office in the 2020 primary and general elections.
About the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office
The Maricopa County Assessor’s Office is responsible for all property valuations within Maricopa County. The Assessor sends notices about those valuations to property owners each year. The office is not involved in tax collecting.