John Noguez takes lead in L.A. County assessor’s race

In the first competitive general election for Los Angeles County assessor in a decade, John R. Noguez was leading in early returns. His opponent is John Y. Wong.

The job was up for grabs with the retirements this year of Rick Auerbach and his temporary replacement, Robert Quon.

The assessor decides the value of property in the county, which helps determine how much the owners pay in property taxes. The nonpartisan role has become particularly important in recent years, as homeowners have sought relief because of falling property values.

The favorite in the race has been Deputy Assessor Noguez, 45, who has spent a quarter of a century working for the office, starting as a student and now as a community outreach official. He also is the mayor of Huntington Park, a city of about 64,000 in southeast Los Angeles County.

Noguez was endorsed by Auerbach and four of the five Los Angeles County supervisors and was the top vote-getter in the June primary, which featured 13 candidates.

Wong, 61, who chairs the assessment appeals board, came in second in June. The Monterey Park businessman has spent 15 years reviewing decisions made by the assessor as a member of the part-time appeals board. He also touted his experience in running an almond cookie company and a frozen burrito business.

Noguez said his political experience on the Huntington Park City Council made him a good fit to lobby Sacramento on behalf of L.A. County taxpayers and said his experience in the assessor’s office ensured continuity.

Wong criticized Noguez for lacking experience in managing large organizations and for not having a college degree. He said the assessor’s computer system was difficult to understand by taxpayers wishing to appeal assessments on their property.

ron.lin@latimes.com