What experience (personal, professional, financial, other) would you bring to your role as County Assessor that will benefit our county?

I have been a Certified Residential Appraiser since 2006, working across 15 counties in Southern Colorado. I have extensive experience with the policies, procedures, and practices used in the Assessor's office.

I have tons of leadership experience as a business owner/operator with 50 employees. Additionally, I have years as an outdoor guide, a youth sports coach, and 8 years as a high school teacher in Falcon D-49.

Finally, I am not taking any donations from builders, large land owners or special interests.

I am the only candidate in this race with relevant career experience, leadership experience, and who is refusing donations from special interests. Outside of this office I will be working for a data center moratorium.

What is your vision for being our county's Assessor?

This office needs to function with professionalism, competence and transparency. My office will do the work using the best practices without fear or favor. When special interests try to game the system and fund unqualified candidates for these important offices, the citizens have to ask, "what do these donors hope to gain?" And clearly, the developers and donors want friends in high places to work behind the scenes for their own profits and power. I pledge to work for the entire community and represent working folks and all homeowners equally in the county. If you support the community over the corporations, then I hope I can earn your vote.

What are the duties and obligations of the El Paso County Assessor?

From Chapter 1, page 1 of the Colorado Assessor's Duties - "The county assessors are responsible for the management and operation of the assessor’s office. Their goal is to produce the tax warrant with fair and equalized property values. ...The major duties of an assessor can be categorized as discovering, listing, classifying, and valuing all taxable real and personal property and all property granted exemption by the Division of Property Taxation." There are recognized policies, practices and procedures defined by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP), and I have used these for 6 years as a professional appraiser. There are reports and deadlines that must be correct to operate a modern county in Colorado.

Would you support a change to Colorado's Senior Property Tax Exemption to provide full and permanent homestead exemption portability?

Yes, I would support change allowing the portability of the homestead exemption.

What is your position on the current methods for appeals and reappraisal of property in El Paso County, and would you like to see any changes?

Given the legal limitations imposed by state deadlines, we need multiple avenues to initiate a protest. The reappraisal always starts with confirming that the data on the subject is correct, and this may be the easiest way to protest a valuation. Then it moves to the evidence supporting the value conclusion. The County needs to be transparent with the data used and the formulas for determining these adjustments and conclusions. My office would have a position to coach and counsel property owners who want to protest the valuations on their own to help home owners build their case with the best resources available. This office is supposed to serve the community.

How would you explain to constituents the process by which mill levies are established?

First, it's important to state clearly that the Assessors office has no power to propose, enact, or charge any mill levies. All of the mill levies are proposed and imposed outside of the Assessors office. There are basic property taxes that are the number one funding mechanism of our local schools, including charter and magnet schools. Some are limited to certain zones and are approved by those local voters, such as the downtown development zone. Some are agreed upon by developments so the cost to create new neighborhoods outside of the areas currently served by the public infrastructure are not charged back to current users. In some areas it has become a long list of taxation entities.

What is your position on The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)?

TABOR has been an effective tool to hold taxes to only increase with inflation and growth, but it has allowed the wealthiest individuals and corporations to not pay their fair share. We have a chance right now to cut taxes on 99% of taxpayers in El Paso County. The Graduated Income Tax (Amendment 87) would take Colorado back to a more traditional tax structure like the US had through the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's where when someone has an income over $500,000/yr, those dollars over that level are taxed at a higher marginal rate. This cuts taxes for almost every Coloradoan, and provides funds for education and healthcare. Vote YES on 87 for a Fair Tax

What experience (personal, professional, financial, other) would you bring to your role as County Assessor that will benefit our county?

I bring technical, financial, leadership, and public-service experience to the Assessor’s Office. I earned a B.S. in Business Administration from CU Boulder with an emphasis in accounting, have more than 30 years of experience in SBA-backed lending, and served more than six years on the El Paso County Planning Commission. My work has required careful analysis, regulatory compliance, sound judgment, and the consistent application of complex rules.

Those experiences have taught me to lead, make difficult decisions, and be accountable for results. Throughout my career, I have learned how to make complex information understandable and useful to the people affected by it. I am honored to have the endorsements of retiring Assessor Mark Flutcher and former two-term Assessor Mark Lowderman.

What is your vision for being our county's Assessor?

My vision is an Assessor’s Office that is transparent, accessible, responsive, and grounded in public service. Property owners should be able to understand how their values are determined, access the information used, and know what options they have when they have questions or disagree.

We will improve access to data and make the Assessor’s website more useful for taxpayers and the professionals who rely on it. We will also work to ensure eligible seniors and 100% disabled veterans receive the exemptions available to them.

More broadly, I want residents to understand what the Assessor’s Office does, how it fits into the property-tax system, and where to turn when they need help with local government.

What are the duties and obligations of the El Paso County Assessor?

The Assessor is responsible for discovering, listing, classifying, and valuing property in the county according to Colorado law. The office maintains property records, determines actual values, calculates assessed values, notifies property owners, and certifies values to taxing entities.

The Assessor’s Office also hears property owners’ initial valuation and classification appeals, processes abatement petitions, and administers senior and qualifying disabled veteran property tax exemptions.

The Assessor does not set tax rates or collect property taxes. Taxing authorities establish their levies, while the Treasurer uses the Assessor-certified tax warrant to calculate, bill, and collect property taxes.

At its core, the Assessor’s obligation is to apply Colorado law fairly and consistently while providing accurate information and responsive service to the public.

Would you support a change to Colorado's Senior Property Tax Exemption to provide full and permanent homestead exemption portability?

support making Colorado’s senior homestead exemption permanent, reliably funded, and portable. Part of my platform is ensuring every eligible senior knows about the exemption and receives it.

While knocking on doors, I have heard from seniors whose inability to carry the exemption to a new home can make downsizing difficult. I believe it is time to revisit that limitation.

The Assessor cannot make this change, but I will work with legislators and community members to help advance the conversation. The office can also help residents understand where these decisions are made and how to make their voices heard.

Government should serve people by providing clear information and helping residents advocate effectively for themselves.

What is your position on the current methods for appeals and reappraisal of property in El Paso County, and would you like to see any changes?

I support the current framework for reappraisal and appeals, but I believe the process can be made easier for property owners to understand and use.

My focus will be transparency, education, and better access to information. We will explain how values are determined and improve the data and tools available so property owners can independently review their valuations.

When questions or disagreements arise, we will work to resolve factual issues at the office level whenever possible. When an appeal is necessary, property owners should receive clear information about deadlines, required evidence, how decisions are made, and each step of the process.

The goal is a fair, understandable process in which taxpayers have access to the information behind their property value.

How would you explain to constituents the process by which mill levies are established?

A mill levy is the tax rate used to calculate property taxes. Each taxing authority—such as a school district, city, county, or special district—sets its levy annually, subject to state law and voter-approved tax or debt provisions, some of which may have been approved by voters years before the current owner purchased the property.

The Assessor determines value according to law. State law establishes the applicable assessment rates used to calculate assessed value. One mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value.

In simple terms: assessed value × total mill levy = property tax.

The Assessor determines property value. Taxing authorities establish their mill levies. The Treasurer calculates, bills, and collects property taxes.

What is your position on The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)?

TABOR has been an important protection for Colorado taxpayers, and I support it. I believe government exists to serve the people, and requiring voter approval before government creates new taxes or raises tax rates is sound public policy.

I am also concerned when mandatory government charges are structured as fees rather than taxes. Colorado law recognizes a legitimate distinction between the two, but that distinction should not be used to sidestep voters. Fees should bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of the service they support.

TABOR is ultimately about accountability: when government seeks greater taxing authority, voters should have a meaningful voice in that decision.