The King County Assessor oversees the assessment of
residential and commercial properties in King County,
as well as personal property used by businesses.
These values are used to calculate property taxes
and to calculate property tax levy rates for King
County taxing districts.
This is a nonpartisan position.
The assessor serves a four-year term, and all
voters within King County are eligible to vote in this race.
-Hello, my name is Dominique Scarimbolo, and I am running
for King County Assessor.
I am not a career politician.
I'm a small family business owner, property owner, and
somebody who has spent years researching government codes,
regulations, and property tax systems firsthand.
I've dealt with property tax appeals, done many
public records requests, and been involved
in many other processes that for sure leave
people feeling frustrated, unheard, and confused.
The Assessor's Office should not be complicated.
Taxpayers should easily be able to understand how their property
value was determined, why it may have changed, and how
to effectively challenge it if they don't agree with it.
I also believe uniformity matters.
Similar properties should be assessed under
consistent standards and methodologies
throughout King County.
Taxpayers should not be left wondering whether one
area or property type or group is being treated
differently than another.
Public confidence depends on a process that is
transparent, understandable, and consistently applied.
And taxpayers should not need specialized knowledge
or expensive help just to understand that process.
Government works best when it stays focused on the
responsibilities they were created to perform,
which is also first and foremost to serve we the
people, not figure out ways to generate more tax revenue.
The Assessor's Office should provide fair and
accurate assessments, clear information, and a process
people can have confidence in.
If elected, my goal is simple: open the books,
increase transparency, improve accessibility,
and put taxpayers first.
-Hello, I'm Chris Roberts.
As a former Shoreline Mayor, longtime councilmember
enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation,
and King County property owner, I know firsthand
the stress skyrocketing property taxes place
on King County residents.
Too many of our neighbors are at risk of being
priced out of their homes.
I am running for assessor to restore integrity, equity, and
transparency to the office.
Right now, backlogs and understaffing delay vulnerable
seniors, veterans, and neighbors with disabilities from
receiving the tax exemptions they qualify for.
Meanwhile, our current system uses unsound valuation methods
for certain properties, giving them subsidized tax
rates while you and I pay more.
That is simply not everyone paying their fair share.
Fixing these structural issues requires a completely different
skill set than valuing a house.
Relying purely on appraisal experience
to run this department is like hiring an insurance
agent to serve as the state insurance commissioner.
One handles individual transactions, the other runs
a massive public agency.
My goal is to focus on the broader challenges facing
the office while advocating for sound public policy.
To deliver real tax relief, we must first ensure the office
supports our county's $400-billion economy efficiently.
That means modernizing our processes so housing can be
built without costly delays, working with cities to
promote efficient government, and proactively expanding
targeted outreach so every eligible resident gets the tax
exemptions they are entitled to.
Over the last 17 years, I've managed complex public budgets,
worked with regional leaders, and managed large projects.
I would be honored to bring that practical executive experience
and collaborative approach to the Department of Assessments.
I am proud to be endorsed by officials from all across the
county, including Executive Girmay Zahilay and former
Assessor Lloyd Hara.
I would appreciate your vote.
Yakoke.
-Hello, my name is Rob Foxcurran and I'm running
for King County Assessor.
I grew up here.
I graduated from the Seattle Public Schools before
graduating from the UW.
Today, my wife and I live on Beacon Hill in Seattle with
our soon-to-be two daughters, who I'm proud to say are both
sixth-generation Seattleites.
This is home.
Now, whether you rent or own your home,
costs keep rising, and property taxes are
a part of that story.
The assessor doesn't set tax rates,
but they do determine the value of every property in the county.
Those values shape what you pay.
That's why I'm running.
This is a technical office that requires real
expertise to run well.
I may not be an elected politician,
but I am an expert and proven leader in my field.
I'm the only candidate and progressive in this race
that has spent over a decade as a certified general
real estate appraiser.
I currently serve as the City of Seattle's senior appraiser,
where I'm also a shop steward with PROTEC17.
For the past three years, I also served as a hearing examiner
on the King County Board of Appeals and Equalization.
That's where folks go to appeal their property's assessed value.
There, I watched corporate landowners
pay teams of consultants to help slash their tax bills.
I've seen the system from every seat at the table.
I know where it works, and I know where it falls short.
King County currently ranks near the bottom nationally
in commercial property tax fairness.
When the wealthiest corporations
don't pay their share, that burden shifts directly
onto your shoulders.
We need a professional to balance these scales.
My plan for real affordability includes three core
shifts. First, we need modernized payments.
I will fight for monthly payment options so families can
actually budget.
Second, we need to expand the county's
efforts in signing seniors, veterans, and neighbors
with disabilities up for for the exemption programs
they are already qualified for.
And third, I'm pushing for a universal homestead exemption.
What does that mean?
It means that a portion of your primary residence,
your home, is exempt from property taxes.
Why does that matter?
Because we're in the middle of a housing crisis
and an affordability crisis, and no one should ever be taxed
out of their own neighborhood.
I'm Rob Foxcurran, candidate for King County Assessor,
and I would be honored to earn your support
in our effort to prioritize people over property.
Thank you.
-Hello, my name is Al Dams and I'm running for King
County Assessor.
I was born in Seattle and have
lived here my whole life.
I currently reside in Northeast King County outside of Duvall.
I've been married for 32 years and together
we have five children.
I attended public schools and graduated from the
University of Washington.
I've served in King County Government for 32 years now and
am currently the Chief Deputy Assessor.
I know how critical the work of the Assessor's Office is.
I lead the efforts to set property values upon which your
property taxes are calculated and billed.
I also lead the review of funding requests from
taxing districts to ensure they are accurate
and lawful.
Getting it right is technical and demanding,
taking years to learn.
I've done it for 11 years as Chief Deputy Assessor.
My teams of highly trained and educated appraisers, analysts,
and technologists value 750,000 residential and commercial
properties each year.
Because of our office's high standards, professionalism,
and quality, we've earned the Certificate of Excellence in
Assessment and Administration, one of only 65 assessors
in North America to achieve this honor and one of two in our
state. No candidate in this race has the experience and
knowledge I have nor the track record reforming
the property tax system.
As Chief Deputy Assessor, I've worked to reform
exemption programs so thousands of additional
seniors are receiving tax breaks to stay in their
homes. I'm committed to expanding tax exemptions
so those of all ages are eligible.
Voters face a real choice: hand this office
to someone who must learn from scratch and risk
costly mistakes, or elect me, the person who's
been doing this work every day for more than a decade.
I'm asking for your vote to keep the office in
and experienced and proven hands.
I'm endorsed by organizations,
elected officials, and people of all backgrounds, and I'd
be honored with your vote.