I am running to be your next Santa Clara County assessor to ensure the Assessor’s Office continues to work for taxpayers and residents. I am the only candidate with the experience, legally required property tax certification, management acumen and leadership skills to be your next assessor. I am currently the assistant assessor and was previously a special assistant and an attorney for the office.
The role of assessor is not showy or political. Instead, the assessor’s primary responsibility is to fairly and accurately assess the value of taxable property in the county — the Assessor does not have the discretion to raise or cut taxes nor exempt seniors from property taxes in violation of existing laws.
The role involves appraising and assessing over 500,000 properties and producing an over-$700-billion assessment roll that generates roughly $8 billion in property tax revenue annually to fund vital services such as public safety, health care and schools. The office manages over 11,000 active appeals and employs 251 professionals, most of them certified appraisers and auditors.
The work is governed by state laws and is highly specialized, requiring deep technical knowledge. The next assessor must be a professional focused on the work of the office, not a politician looking to use the office as a steppingstone to other positions. I am the only candidate with the necessary skills and focus to have the office provide excellent service while modernizing and improving it for the future.
As your next Assessor, I will:
• Ensure that assessments are done legally, fairly and accurately, including applying legal exemptions and exclusions, and proactively reducing assessed values when allowed.
• Continue to save taxpayers money by educating property owners on how to take advantage of tax exemptions to which they’re entitled. Customer service and community engagement will continue to be priorities, including providing information in different languages to help guide taxpayers through the process and with accessing the services.
• Protect revenue by ensuring the assessments are performed correctly so they can be effectively defended.
• Continue to modernize the office. Over the last year, I have led a team to acquire new modern technology to replace the 40-year-old system. Along with the existing modern tools, this will improve efficiency, streamline processes and secure data. The new system will go live in two years.
• Improve the appeals process. As an attorney who understands the process and the stakeholders involved, I am already working on improvements, including expediting the resolution of appeals.
• Be a strong voice for Santa Clara County. I am currently serving my second term on the Los Altos City Council and have been unanimously selected by my colleagues to be mayor and vice mayor, and I have been elected or selected to be a leader both regionally and statewide. My record demonstrates that I can effectively work with leaders across the state.
I am proud to have endorsements that include the Mercury News; the Santa Clara County Democratic Party; Rep. Sam Liccardo; retired Assessor Larry Stone; county Supervisors Margaret Abe-Koga, Betty Duong, Susan Ellenberg and Otto Lee; San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Saratoga Mayor Chuck Page.
But what matters most is that you vote in this election. With a Dec. 30 election date, it’s easy to forget. Voting has already started. I respectfully ask for your vote. Happy Holidays!