Texas Comptroller Don Huffines announced on Sept. 14 the senior leadership team he has recruited to carry out what his office called sweeping reforms at the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
The agency said in a Sept. 14 news release that the group brings together business leaders, tax attorneys, investigators and career public servants around a single charge: run the agency with a private-sector mindset, fight for the taxpayer and root out fraud, waste and abuse.
“In just 30 business days, we’ve made tremendous progress protecting Texas taxpayers and making this office more efficient by eliminating redundancy and flattening the management structure,” said Huffines. “I’ve spent my career building organizations, and the first rule is simple: You are only as successful as the people you hire.”
Noah Betz, who has worked for Huffines since 2021 managing operations, finance and staff across his ventures, was named deputy comptroller and chief of staff, according to the release. Christopher Blackwell joins as general counsel and associate deputy comptroller from Deloitte, where the agency said he advised Fortune 500 companies on indirect tax matters, tax controversy and state and local taxation. Blackwell previously served as an assistant general counsel at the Comptroller’s office.
Two other attorneys will split legal oversight of the agency’s core functions. Vicky North, a member of the Comptroller’s office since 2008 and most recently general counsel for fiscal and agency affairs, becomes general counsel and associate deputy comptroller for treasury and fiscal matters, overseeing fiscal management, revenue estimating, treasury operations, statewide procurement and property tax assistance, among other divisions. Robin Robinson, who spent more than 13 years at the agency as a hearings attorney and deputy general counsel before moving to a Big Four accounting firm, returns as general counsel and associate deputy comptroller for tax, with oversight of enforcement, audit, taxpayer services and revenue accounting.
Jeff Norwood, a former Midland County judge and former director of communications for the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, was named associate deputy comptroller for external affairs. Brad Weatherford, a certified fraud examiner whose career includes service with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers’ Public Integrity Unit, will lead the agency’s criminal investigations.
Tetyana Melnyk, who joined the agency in 2008 and was named director of revenue estimating in 2021, is chief revenue estimator, the release said. Hannah Sacia, who served nearly a decade in the Texas House of Representatives as a legislative director and later chief of staff, is director of government relations.
The appointments follow what Huffines described as a first month focused on eliminating redundancy and flattening the agency’s management structure.