May 31, 2021

Please describe your role with your County:

As Assessor, I am responsible for producing the annual assessment roll. Our mission is to provide exceptional customer service while accurately and fairly assessing all real and business property in a timely manner. With 528,705 assessable roll units, the work performed by the 266 appraisers, auditors, and other professionals on our team generates nearly $6 billion in property tax revenue annually, with $1 billion alone benefiting the County’s general fund.

What motivated you to enter public service?

LOVE of politics! My dad was a leader in Seattle’s labor movement and my mom role-modeled what it meant to be a strong independent woman. So, I experienced first-hand what could be achieved through “politics.” I learned then and still believe that politics, the art of making change to improve the quality of life for working families collectively, remains a most rewarding and noble profession.

What’s your proudest professional or personal accomplishment?

Personally, I am very proud of my family and three adult sons. Professionally, being elected 11 times to public office without a defeat tops the list. Other accomplishments for which I am very proud to include is being the first man selected to serve on the Board of the YWCA, co-founding a successful real estate investment and development business, and developing two low-income, affordable housing projects serving a total of 536 families.

Who is your hero?

My hero is Dr. Jonas Salk, who discovered the vaccine that eradicated the polio pandemic. What truly set him apart was his refusal to patent or profit from his discovery.  Instead, he urged that it be available for all to benefit.

Do you have any words of advice for someone interested in becoming an Assessor?

An Assessor is a different type of elected official. Essentially, I am a high-level bureaucrat who gets to the position by election. This job requires a dedication to productivity, performance, and fair and equitable assessments. Sometimes that will make you popular; sometimes it doesn’t.

Always, not most of the time, but always do what is best for the County, not what is best for you politically.