Campaign News

Grant Dorman – My strongest qualifications are my technical background in the real estate industry, and my administrative and business leadership experience gained through having run my own land surveying business for 20 years.

Donna Gow – My strongest qualifications are that I am a certified Appraiser, I am the only person in the office or of my opponents that has appraised residential, commercial, mobile and manufactured homes, condos and some personal property. You don’t have to be certified for the Assessor, but it helps answering questions from staff and the public.

 Jessi Webster – Corporate knowledge, in-depth knowledge of processes, familiarity with staff, strong leadership skills and a want to change the Assessor’s office for the better.

Grant Dorman – If there was sufficient similarity between another candidate that was as qualified, and shared the same values, I would be willing to discuss withdrawing for the purpose of the best candidate being put forth. That being said, I do not know of any such candidate.

Donna Gow – No, I believe that everyone has the right to seek public office. See section 5 E in the Idaho GOP platform.

 Jessi Webster – I believe that the problems the Assessor’s Office is currently facing will best be addressed by someone with internal knowledge. Unless that person has that knowledge, I would not be willing to step away.

Grant Dorman – To me, the term “conservative” goes the fundamental purpose of government, which is to protect the God-given rights (natural law) of the individual, which was articulated best by Thomas Jefferson when he said, “That Government is best that governs least”. Conservatism seeks to conserve or restrain itself from growing beyond its rightful place and when it does, to reign it back in to where it ought to be. Lastly, conservatism upholds the ideal of self-government as the way citizens ought to engage with one another.

Donna Gow – Conservative to me means fiscal responsibility, promoting individualism, and following the basics of the Constitution.

 Jessi Webster – Again, situational, similar question to number #1. My core values will always dictate my motivation.

Grant Dorman – The Assessor’s office has not been as open to suggestions on how it might improve as it ought. I plan to become more transparent and open to suggestions and by creating a more transparent process for the public to participate in.

Donna Gow – There is no lack of transparency in the Assessor’s Office.

 Jessi Webster – I believe there is a lack of transparency, but I do not believe it is intentional or secretive. I just believe that more public outreach needs to be done.

Grant Dorman – In my view social equity means members of society can expect equal outcomes regardless of personal effort or ability. Equality of opportunity is a much fairer system where everyone is given the same opportunity. Outcomes are determined by one’s initiative and ability. In this framework, personal
growth and production is incentivized and rewarded appropriately. In the office of Assessor, hiring will be done on an equal opportunity basis and the most qualified will get the job. Those who perform best will be given advancement opportunities. Those who don’t meet the expectations will have to accept the natural consequences so others who can will be given the same equal opportunity to do so.

Donna Gow – My understanding of social equity is the same as equal opportunity. This is currently applied in the Assessor’s Office.

 Jessi Webster – That’s what Human Resources is for.

Grant Dorman – Property ownership information is legally considered public information. That doesn’t mean; however, that the data needs to be pushed out onto the internet.

Donna Gow – It depends on what is “personal data.” A property owner’s name, value, taxes, etc are public information and publishing that information online saves time and money for the Assessor’s Office.

 Jessi Webster – I wouldn’t want my personal information provided without my consent; I believe in privacy. Again, this is where the county’s legal team would come in and review any request for this type of information.

Grant Dorman – The Idaho State Tax Commission requires that properties are appraised at between 90% and 110% of their market value. If the county targets 90%, there is a good chance that plenty of properties will come in below 90% and be out of compliance with ISTC. If the county targets 100%, there is more allowance for passing the State’s annual audit. If the target is the same across all market sectors (whether it be 90% 100% or 110%), there is little affect on actual property tax. If, however, certain sectors are higher than other sectors, then those higher sectors wind up paying more on their property taxes than the lower sectors.

Donna Gow – If everyone is treated equally there should be no affect. The average homeowner should not be affected, except when the homeowner’s exemption is maxed. There is the possibility of a tax increase.

 Jessi Webster – I do not believe any administrator/Assessor has the discrepancy to raise a property valuation by a certain percentage. This would be dictated by state statute or the state tax commission. Should the county not be assessing properly based on current market value the tax commission has the authority to intervene and remediate as necessary. Assessments should be at 100% of market value, but that’s not reality so the state gives a margin of error of 10%. If the annual sales study completed by the Assessor’s Office does not fall between 90 to 110, your assessments are out of compliance and the tax commission will intervene.