Lloyd Hara for King County Assessor

The 3-day special filing period for King County Assessor opened Wednesday morning. After delivering the necessary papers (and the $1,460.40 filing fee) to King County Elections headquarters in Renton, Lloyd authorized the following release:

Hara, calling for new leadership, files for King County Assessor vacancy

Citizen watchdog and former Seattle City Treasurer Lloyd Hara today filed for the vacant King County Assessor’s post, saying it was time to bring fresh leadership to the office and new accountability to taxpayers.

“I pride myself on being a watchdog, not a lapdog,” said Hara.  “For nearly 20 years, the same folks have run the Assessor’s office.  It is time for a change and some proven leadership.”

Hara is currently completing a four year term as a Port of Seattle Commissioner, where he has been a leading advocate of accountability and shaking up the Port’s “old guard culture.”

“If I’m elected Assessor in November, one of the first things on my agenda is a thorough, independent performance audit of the office,” Hara said.  “From the people I’ve spoken with in the office, there is some room for improvement. We’re going to take a fresh look at how things are done. I have some good ideas already. ”

With a shaky economy and plunging property values, Hara said taxpayers are understandably concerned about being treated fairly by the Assessor in regards to their property values.  “We have too many of our neighbors here in King County who are unemployed, had hours cut or are even facing foreclosure.  They have a right to be treated fairly and with respect by the Assessor’s Office.”

Hara has a 40 year career of managing public agencies – from serving as an Army officer, to King County’s youngest Auditor, to four terms as Seattle Treasurer, to running FEMA in a four state region during the Clinton Administration and most recently on the Port Commission.

The Assessor’s vacancy was created earlier this year when incumbent Scott Noble was forced to resign after pleading guilty to felony drunk driving charges.  The special election will be on the November 3^rd ballot.

We have one opponent already, we may have more by close of business Friday, and of course we encourage you to join our 100′s of publicly declared supporters and contribute what you can to help us engage the voters of King County in a lively public debate over the future direction of this obscure but vital elected office.

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