Written by Melody Peterson | 05 August 2010

My respect for anyone who has run for a public office has grown considerably these last few months. This indeed is a tough job interview. I have enjoyed many of the great people I have met. I respect the concerns and questions they have felt comfortable asking me. They are glad to learn I started at entry level in the Assessor's office and was promoted several times into greater levels of job responsibility. They were also encouraged to find I had completed appraisal classes before I was promoted to the administrative position of Chief Deputy in 2003.

When I am elected Assessor, the staff will support me as we complete the transition to a new computer system and moving into annual revaluation from the current four-year cycle. I will continue my efforts to open a satellite office for the more rural areas of our large county. I will fulfill my commitment to attend public meetings to promote education and communication. The Assessor doesn't have an easy job ahead. With more budget cuts looming, difficult decisions will have to be made. The current structure of the office will need to change, and we may have fewer people to complete assignments; this alone will require us to work smarter.

I have the best working knowledge of the assessor's office, with over seventeen years as an employee and over seven years of those as an administrator. I would require a shorter learning curve than my opponents which is beneficial to both the staff and taxpayers.

I have been a taxpayer in this county for many years and understand what being a homeowner means to most of us. As your assessor it will be my responsibility to set the standard for the quality of work being done by this office. I will expect a high degree of integrity and respect for the public by the assessor's deputies, and I will work to ensure that this principle is upheld.

There is one side benefit of running for public office and that is weight loss; I may have to write a book.

Again hats off to all the people who take the time and have the courage to run for a public office!

Melody Peterson
Candidate for Mason County Assessor

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