Published: Monday, July 18, 2011
3 vie for county’s tax appraisal job
Two real estate brokers are challenging the incumbent for the county position that pays more than $104,000.
Three people are vying for the job that, sometimes unfairly, gets much of the public's ire about property taxes.
That would be the Snohomish County assessor, the official responsible for appraising taxable property and calculating tax bills.
Incumbent Assessor Cindy Portmann has held that office for two four-year terms and wants to win another. Two licensed real estate brokers also want a shot at the job.
One of the challengers is Betty DeLay, a former Darrington town councilwoman who works in security at Boeing's main lobby in Everett. The other is Chris Vallo, an operations manager at Frontier Communications.
Portmann said real estate experience wouldn't necessarily prepare her opponents to handle the inner workings of her office, or the nearly 300,000 property evaluations her employees perform each year.
"They wouldn't have any background in mass appraisals and they're very different," Portmann said. "You have to learn the unique laws that apply to your state, the county codes, the software."
The challengers, however, count their outside perspective as an asset.
The two candidates with the most votes will advance from the Aug. 16 primary to the Nov. 8 general election. The job pays $104,360.24 per year, an amount set by an appointed citizens commission.
The office is contending with budget cuts that have reduced staff to 62.5 full-time equivalent positions, fewer than the office employed in 1996. During the same period, the office's workload has increased to 284,000 yearly property appraisals from 215,000.
A legislative report from last year showed Snohomish County meeting international assessment standards, an achievement not all county assessors in Washington can claim.
Portmann, who lives near Snohomish, joined the assessor's office in 1987. She worked her way up from an entry-level position and six years later was appointed chief deputy assessor.
"Since I was appointed chief deputy, there have been a lot of changes and I anticipate a lot of changes in the future," she said.
After winning election in 2003, Portmann switched the office to yearly appraisals, instead of doing them every four years. By 2014, Washington will require all counties to make that system.
Portmann's endorsements include many of the county's independently elected officials, the Machinists union and former county Executive Bob Drewel.
DeLay lists her outgoing personality and 20 years of real estate experience as qualifications to replace Portmann.
"I'm a leader and I know it," she said. "There's nothing I can't learn."
She formerly served for eight years on Darrington Town Council, her hometown, but she now lives near Arlington. At Boeing, she's often the first person that visitors meet at the company's main commercial lobby in Everett, where she issues security badges.
"I wouldn't be in back at a desk," DeLay said of the assessor's job. "I would be on the front line letting people know that I'm involved."
Chris Vallo of Lake Stevens wants to take a closer look at the data the county uses for property values. His goal would be to have a smooth-running office that issues fair assessed values. Experience as a telecommunications manager and community service would help to make that happen, Vallo said.
"We're all kind of wondering why assessments are high and sales prices are low," he said.
Vallo has never held political office, aside from being a Republican 44th Legislative District precinct committee officer. His community service includes sitting on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America's Mount Baker Council. He previously coached and served on the football board for the Lake Stevens Junior Athletic Association.
Last week, the state Public Disclosure Commission website showed Portmann reporting more than $13,000 in campaign donations and Vallo with no campaign money reported. No records were listed for DeLay.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
Snohomish County Assessor (nonpartisan office)
Primary Election is Aug. 16
Betty DeLay
Age: 62
Residence: Arlington
Occupation: Security access administrator for the Boeing Co., real estate agent for 20 years, previously served on Darrington Town Council for eight years.
Website: None
Education: Associate of science in general studies from City University of Seattle, Everett campus.
In her words: "I can meet deadlines, I can bring order to chaos, I have attention to detail and I have a terrific sense of humor."
Priorities: Customer service, fair market appraisals, making sure appraisers in the field do their job.
Cindy Portmann
Age: 54
Residence: Snohomish
Occupation: Snohomish County Assessor
Website: www.votecindy.com
Education: Attended Everett Community College, assessment courses though the International Association of Assessors and the state Department of Revenue.
In her words: "We have no reason to defend a value that we cannot support."
Priorities: Fair and equitable assessments; excellent customer service; using more advanced technology; and making Assessor's Office information as transparent as possible.
Chris Vallo
Age: 53
Residence: Lake Stevens
Occupation: Engineering manager for operations at Frontier Communications, licensed real estate broker.
Website: www.vote4vallo.com
Education: Associate's degree from Everett Community College.
In his words: "It's time to have an outside person come into the office to see what where we'd be more effective and efficient. People are getting tired of the same results."
Priorities: To assess property at true and fair market value; to be responsive and accountable to taxpayers; to streamline processes so taxpayers don't wait as long to get answers for appeals, deferrals or other services.
That would be the Snohomish County assessor, the official responsible for appraising taxable property and calculating tax bills.
Incumbent Assessor Cindy Portmann has held that office for two four-year terms and wants to win another. Two licensed real estate brokers also want a shot at the job.
One of the challengers is Betty DeLay, a former Darrington town councilwoman who works in security at Boeing's main lobby in Everett. The other is Chris Vallo, an operations manager at Frontier Communications.
Portmann said real estate experience wouldn't necessarily prepare her opponents to handle the inner workings of her office, or the nearly 300,000 property evaluations her employees perform each year.
"They wouldn't have any background in mass appraisals and they're very different," Portmann said. "You have to learn the unique laws that apply to your state, the county codes, the software."
The challengers, however, count their outside perspective as an asset.
The two candidates with the most votes will advance from the Aug. 16 primary to the Nov. 8 general election. The job pays $104,360.24 per year, an amount set by an appointed citizens commission.
The office is contending with budget cuts that have reduced staff to 62.5 full-time equivalent positions, fewer than the office employed in 1996. During the same period, the office's workload has increased to 284,000 yearly property appraisals from 215,000.
A legislative report from last year showed Snohomish County meeting international assessment standards, an achievement not all county assessors in Washington can claim.
Portmann, who lives near Snohomish, joined the assessor's office in 1987. She worked her way up from an entry-level position and six years later was appointed chief deputy assessor.
"Since I was appointed chief deputy, there have been a lot of changes and I anticipate a lot of changes in the future," she said.
After winning election in 2003, Portmann switched the office to yearly appraisals, instead of doing them every four years. By 2014, Washington will require all counties to make that system.
Portmann's endorsements include many of the county's independently elected officials, the Machinists union and former county Executive Bob Drewel.
DeLay lists her outgoing personality and 20 years of real estate experience as qualifications to replace Portmann.
"I'm a leader and I know it," she said. "There's nothing I can't learn."
She formerly served for eight years on Darrington Town Council, her hometown, but she now lives near Arlington. At Boeing, she's often the first person that visitors meet at the company's main commercial lobby in Everett, where she issues security badges.
"I wouldn't be in back at a desk," DeLay said of the assessor's job. "I would be on the front line letting people know that I'm involved."
Chris Vallo of Lake Stevens wants to take a closer look at the data the county uses for property values. His goal would be to have a smooth-running office that issues fair assessed values. Experience as a telecommunications manager and community service would help to make that happen, Vallo said.
"We're all kind of wondering why assessments are high and sales prices are low," he said.
Vallo has never held political office, aside from being a Republican 44th Legislative District precinct committee officer. His community service includes sitting on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America's Mount Baker Council. He previously coached and served on the football board for the Lake Stevens Junior Athletic Association.
Last week, the state Public Disclosure Commission website showed Portmann reporting more than $13,000 in campaign donations and Vallo with no campaign money reported. No records were listed for DeLay.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
Snohomish County Assessor (nonpartisan office)
Primary Election is Aug. 16
Betty DeLay
Age: 62
Residence: Arlington
Occupation: Security access administrator for the Boeing Co., real estate agent for 20 years, previously served on Darrington Town Council for eight years.
Website: None
Education: Associate of science in general studies from City University of Seattle, Everett campus.
In her words: "I can meet deadlines, I can bring order to chaos, I have attention to detail and I have a terrific sense of humor."
Priorities: Customer service, fair market appraisals, making sure appraisers in the field do their job.
Cindy Portmann
Age: 54
Residence: Snohomish
Occupation: Snohomish County Assessor
Website: www.votecindy.com
Education: Attended Everett Community College, assessment courses though the International Association of Assessors and the state Department of Revenue.
In her words: "We have no reason to defend a value that we cannot support."
Priorities: Fair and equitable assessments; excellent customer service; using more advanced technology; and making Assessor's Office information as transparent as possible.
Chris Vallo
Age: 53
Residence: Lake Stevens
Occupation: Engineering manager for operations at Frontier Communications, licensed real estate broker.
Website: www.vote4vallo.com
Education: Associate's degree from Everett Community College.
In his words: "It's time to have an outside person come into the office to see what where we'd be more effective and efficient. People are getting tired of the same results."
Priorities: To assess property at true and fair market value; to be responsive and accountable to taxpayers; to streamline processes so taxpayers don't wait as long to get answers for appeals, deferrals or other services.
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