-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.