County Assessor

If you don’t know how to load the wagon, who is going to worry about the mules?

I’m referring to the upcoming county assessor election and the qualifications of the candidates. No other elected office has such an impact on the taxpaying public.

I was your assessor when Proposition 13 was passed in 1978. When I retired in 1986 the state legislature had passed hundreds of new laws that were required for the implementation of Proposition 13.

Candidate Dan Goodwin exaggerates his assessment experience. He was hired as an entry-level draftsman in the Ventura County assessor’s office, working in the mapping division, processing deeds and updating maps. He transferred to the valuation division as an appraiser trainee. He left the assessor’s office some 20 years ago to work as an appraiser in the private sector. His eight years in the office did not include any management or administration of the assessment process.

Mr. Goodwin states in his candidate statements that the assessor is the taxpayer’s chief appraiser. The assessor is not the chief appraiser; he is the administrator of a very complex and sensitive assessment process that must, by law, provide equity and fairness, and he must be accountable and available to the taxpayer.

Mr. Goodwin is misleading the taxpayer by making promises he cannot fulfill.

For example, he states in his candidate statement that he will fight to raise the homeowner’s exemption. I remind Mr. Goodwin that the homeowner’s exemption is a constitutional provision and any change must be approved in a statewide election.

He further states he will fight to support Proposition 13. Mr. Goodwin, the law mandates the assessor to support Proposition 13. If you don’t know Proposition 13 laws and the California Constitution and have no experience in assessment administration, you will have a difficult time providing the taxpayer the protection and relief afforded them by Proposition 13 and the California Constitution.

This is why I support Jim Dodd for assessor. For 19 years, he has demonstrated his ability in a variety of responsible appraisal and management positions in the assessor’s office. He is a recognized expert in property tax law. Those taxpayers who have had the occasion to deal with Jim Dodd know him to be responsible, knowledgeable and sensitive to the taxpayers.

He knows how to load the wagon and has demonstrated his ability and his concern for fair and equitable assessments.

JACK M. WATERMAN, Ventura County Assessor, Retired, Oxnard