Editor,
Kelly Mauck should be our next Island County assessor. From patrol deputy in 1996 to patrol sergeant and then undersheriff for Mark Brown in 2007, Kelly worked for Island County in law enforcement for 18 years. He resigned in 2014 and opened a home inspections/general contracting business and in 2019, became a real estate broker. The past eight years have provided him with the education and experience that qualify him to understand the valuation of properties for property tax purposes and to hold this elected office.
RCW 36.21.015 (1) and WAC 458-10 list the duties and responsibilities of the County Assessor and establish criteria for persons assessing real property for property taxation purposes. Kelly has already met three out of four of those requirements because he has 1) at least one year of experience in transactions involving real property, 2) he is knowledgeable in the repair and remodeling of buildings and improvement of land, and 3) he has become knowledgeable in the standards for appraising property set forth by the Department of Revenue (DOR). He has only to complete the required training administered by the DOR and sit for the exam to become accredited.
The county assessor is a full-time position requiring the elected official to act as an employee, share in the duties, recruit, train, and retain staff and participate in every function of the office. Along with property appraisals, the assessor handles Board of Equalization appeals, prepares the annual levy of taxes and administers state current use and personal exemption programs.
Kelly is bright, he is a hard worker, and he learns fast. His many years of management experience in local government and qualifying knowledge in this field will shorten the transition period after election. Kelly wants this job and is willing to put in the hands-on work so that your real property is accurately valued and to assure that if you have questions or disagree, you will receive answers. Please give him your vote.
Wanda Grone
Island County treasurer
