Hello!

• Q: Why are you running for Island County Assessor?

• ​A: Since the very early days of my employment in the Assessors' office, I knew I had found the right environment for growth and expanding my knowledge. I have thrived in working among Island County residents, getting some fresh air and exercising my mind with the ever improving methods of successful mass appraisals. ​I pursued professional designations and built real experience before ever asking anyone for their vote. That experience has shown me clearly where we can do better — starting with proactive outreach to seniors about exemption programs many of them don't know exist. I've seen how qualifications that exceed the bare minimum translate directly into more accurate valuations — and more accurate valuations mean fairer tax bills for every property owner in this county. I understand how hard public trust is to earn and how quickly it can be lost — which is why I'm committed to the professional standards of the International Association of Assessing Officers as a foundation for everything this office does. This isn't about politics. It's about competent, honest public service for the neighbors I live among. The time has come to ask for your support — and earn your vote.

 

• Q: How will you serve farmers, seniors, waterfront owners, and small businesses specifically?

• A: The big picture is this: The office must embrace all best practices — including newly developed techniques — combined with frequent training. That is our best path forward for increased accuracy and fair valuations for all property owners.

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•  Agricultural landowners and farmers have a varied and often confusing set of options before them.  Our office does a great job of clarifying these options and the consequences of participating in each    program. Our goal should be to instill greater confidence that current use classification is being  applied correctly and consistently and not leaning toward what a future developer may see in it.

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• Seniors and veterans could greatly benefit from increased outreach to where they live. An improved law cannot help the financial future of anyone if it is unknown to the eligible residents. Ensuring these programs reach as many qualifying Island County residents as possible along with developing a robust outreach system will be a top priority of mine from day one.

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• Waterfront property owners have some of the most complex valuations in the county. When sales are scarce, assessments must rely even more heavily on sound statistical methodology. These valuations need to be grounded in a repeatable analysis that property owners can understand and trust. 

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• Small businesses and commercial owners need to have the most relevant valuation approach applied consistently along the many varied properties in Island County. This is an area that could benefit significantly from a thorough evaluation — identifying where our current methods can be strengthened and developing a clear strategy for improvement.

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• Q: What does accountability mean to you as a candidate? 

• A: It means being straight with the public even when it's uncomfortable. It means being present in the office and accessible to staff and the public. It means explaining decisions in plain language and welcoming questions rather than avoiding them. It means having concrete and consistent processes that are transparent enough for anyone to observe, measure and verify. And it means proactively disclosing things voters have a right to know, rather than waiting to be asked. On that note, there's something I want to address directly.

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•  Q: Are there any financial disclosures voters should know about?

•  A: Yes. When members of our extended family faced a prolonged emergency, I made the deliberate choice to preserve all available funds, accepting that I would owe penalties and interest on my federal taxes as a result. They are now paid in full. I believe transparency about personal finances — including difficult decisions, is exactly what voters deserve from someone asking to serve as their County Assessor. I've raised this myself because this is the accountability and transparency I practice.​​

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•  Q: What qualifies you for this role?

•  A: I bring a combination of analytical discipline, significant field experience, and deep familiarity with the          issues that matter to Island County property owners. I hold the AAS and RES designations from the International Association of Assessing Officers, am accredited by the Washington State Department of Revenue, and am serving my second year on the IAAO Ethics Committee — credentials that reflect a commitment to professional excellence well beyond the minimum required to hold this office. I've taken the time to understand how the assessment process works and the qualifications that enable a competent valuation — the Washington State Department of Revenue accreditation requirements, the professional standards established by the International Association of Assessing Officers, and the legal framework governing this office. I understand how assessment decisions ripple outward — through tax bills, into financial planning, and ultimately into their sense of fairness. Holding this office means to never stop learning — individually and as a department — and communicating with the public clearly, responsively and worthy of their trust.​

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• Q: What is your position on the role of professional standards in assessment?

• A: They are absolutely vital. The gold standard that the International Association of Assessing Officers sets and the extensive guidance offered by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice are excellent companion pieces to each other that present essential standards. I believe the Assessor's office should be a model of best practices and ethical compliance— not just meeting the minimum bar but actively pursuing the kind of professional excellence that builds public trust over time.

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• Q: How can voters reach you?

• A: Easily. I can be contacted through phone, email, or Facebook listed at the bottom of the page. I welcome questions wherever we may meet on the islands, be it a farmers market, a thrift store or a forest trail. If you have questions about me or my candidacy, I would like to hear from you.