Candidate for
Assessor/Recorder/Clerk; County of San Diego

I started my career with the San Diego County Assessor in 1976 as an Appraiser Trainee. I advanced through appraisal/management positions of increasing responsibility, including Senior Appraiser, Supervisor, and Division Chief. I was a training officer for both residential and commercial staff. I have appraised and reviewed the most sensitive and highly valued properties in San Diego County. From the position of Chief of Valuation, I became the Assistant Assessor/Recorder/Clerk in 2007, remaining in this position until March 2009 when the Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed me to my current position of Assessor/Recorder/Clerk. I am actively involved in the California Assessor's Association and have been for over 5 years.

Since my appointment I have made difficult budgetary decisions necessitated by current economic conditions. I reduced the department budget by 12%. Despite this I have ensured that all department core mandates have been timely met and have continued to make technological changes to enhance employee performance and customer service. We have proactively lowered a record number of property assessments, saving taxpayers over $250 million.

I am not a career politician, and this is my first political campaign. I have always been a working Appraiser/Manager who has frontline experience at all levels of the organization. In my current position I still remain deeply involved in day to day operations of the department and put in a 40+ hour work week. I believe an elected official is responsible to the taxpayers and they deserve a full time committment to the job. The position is not for my own personal agenda. With 36 years of public service I could retire, but I have committed to completing all the technological advances and other important changes I have begun, as I believe they are critical to the citizens of San Diego.

My wife, Suellen, and I have been married 34 years and have 2 adult children, who have both graduated from college.