Lloyd Hara for King County Assessor

Upon Scott Noble’s resignation, his designated successor (and Chief Deputy) Rich Medved automatically became acting King County Assessor. The County Council then passed a resolution setting out a process and a schedule to appoint an interim Assessor, who then serves until the November 3 general election produces an elected Assessor.

The resolution clearly expresses the Council preference for a non-candidate in the interim.  This would avoid giving any candidate an inside track, let the interim Assessor focus on assessments, and avoid politicizing Department of Assessment operations.

Applications closed at noon today.  In addition to retired UW Prof. Earl Bell, applicants for the interim appointment include:

• Rich Medved (the candidate)
• Bob Rosenberger (the candidate’s campaign manager)
• Lynn Gering (the candidate’s firstest and biggest campaign contributor – and a direct subordinate who serves at Medved’s pleasure in the Department of Assessment)

What does this tag-team trio have in mind as the selection process moves forward? Whatever it is, it’s not what the Council had in mind.

In response, Lloyd approved the following release:

July 6, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lloyd Hara
(206) 726-8053

Hara Applauds Council Efforts to Appoint ‘Caretaker’ County Assessor

King County Assessor candidate Lloyd Hara praised efforts by County Council members to appoint an outside caretaker to the office following the resignation of Scott Noble, who resigned after pleading guilty to felony drunk driving.

“With just a November special election and no primary, it only seems fair to appoint a caretaker to the post,” said Hara.  “It was a sound idea for replacing Ron Sims with Kurt Triplett, and I think the County Council should make a similar move in this case.”

Hara said he would not apply for the interim position.  “I think the voters should decide who will be their next Assessor,” said Hara, “Appointing an outside caretaker is an important step towards restoring public confidence in the office.”

Noble pleaded guilty in May to one count of vehicular assault stemming from a head-on crash earlier this year that injured two women in another vehicle.  Noble resigned the day before his sentencing June 19.

Noble’s deputy, Rich Medved, who recently moved into King County, is running for the vacant office but also has filed for the interim appointment.  Two other Medved campaign activists applied as well – Lynn Gering, a senior official in Medved’s office and a major donor to his campaign, and Bob Rosenberger, Medved’s campaign manager.

“I’m shocked and surprised that three of the four applicants are insiders tied to the acting Assessor’s campaign,” said Hara.  “After nearly 20 years being run by the same people, the Assessor’s office is painfully overdue for change.”

Hara noted that “politicizing” the Assessor’s office isn’t new.  Just before Noble quit, Hara said, Noble himself sent an email to Council members endorsing Medved’s candidacy and trashing Hara. Noble called at least one community member to spread “recklessly inaccurate information about my voting record – information also being used by my opponent’s campaign”.

“If this doesn’t politicize the office, what does?” Hara asked.

“The Assessor’s Office touches every homeowner and property owner in this county,” noted Hara, who decided to run for Assessor instead of seeking another term on the Port of Seattle Commission. “The public wants to know it is above politics, that senior officials aren’t covering for each other, and that the office functions in a transparent, open and accountable manner.”

“I think the public wants a level playing field, with no one candidate given the advantage of incumbency, even if it is only interim,” Hara said.  “The fairest thing to do is name a neutral caretaker, and let voters decide in November who they want to be their next King County Assessor.”

In his more than 40 years of public service, Hara as served as King County Auditor, four terms as Seattle City Treasurer, regional FEMA director, and since January 2006 on the Port of Seattle Commission.