Editor,
My name is Bernie Upchurch and I am an eight-year veteran of the Island County Assessor’s Office, presently serving as your elected county assessor. I am writing to endorse TJ Kubisiak as the next Island County assessor.
The role of the assessor is highly complex requiring hands on leadership. TJ Kubisiak is the only candidate with experience and training as an appraiser and experience working in the assessor’s office. Before deciding to run for office, he served as an appraiser, learning the business from the inside. He earned credibility amongst the office staff, critical to effective leadership and like me, most of the staff supports his campaign and stress the need for appraisal experience and understanding of the statutory duties of the county assessor.
With former Democrat Assessor Dave Mattens’ endorsement as well as my endorsement as a Republican, TJ has broad bipartisan support from two prior assessors for his non-partisan campaign for this non-partisan position.
As the present assessor, I have grave concerns that his opponent is a career law enforcement officer with zero experience in an assessor’s office. While he has some Realtor experience since his career in law enforcement, this does not translate into ad valorem tax appraisal. While I have the utmost respect for law enforcement, the training and experience garnered in that field would make him a good sheriff candidate, but is simply not applicable in performing the complex duties of the assessor.
TJ’s opponent lists leadership experience as his strength, but his tenure as county undersheriff was punctuated by his voluntary 2015 retirement during the turmoil following the negligent dehydration death of a young man in the Island County jail, a department under his direct purview. As a retired Navy captain, I place great emphasis on leadership qualities and in my opinion a true leader does not quit in a time of crisis. Mr. Mauck is simply not the best candidate for Island County Assessor.
Conversely, TJ is a proven leader as a combat tested and now retired Navy officer. While serving as an enlisted man initially, TJ then earned his commission and bachelors degree at the University of Washington and subsequently earned his master’s degree in organizational leadership whereas his opponent has only a high school education. I had the fortune of observing TJ’s outstanding performance and leadership first hand working alongside him and I personally encouraged TJ to run for this position. He has the knowledge, skill and experience, to ensure fair, equitable and transparent values for all Island County residents. Vote TJ Kubisiak for assessor.
Bernie Upchurch
Oak Harbor
