Thank you to everyone who supported me during this campaign. I am so grateful to the almost 170,000 people who voted for me in my race for county assessor. I hoped to bring about the changes needed to improve a system of dysfunction and inadequacy but the voters disagreed.
It is important that we hold our elected official accountable for their actions less we become slaves and servants to the very people we entrust to serve us. The property valuation system in Nevada remains broken and the outcome of this election does nothing to resolve this fact. Michele Shafe stated in public on multiple occasions that the current system is fine and she sees no reason for change.
The only way to insure that your property assessment is accurate is to file an appeal. The deadline to file will be January 18, 2011. The Review Journal in their endorsement of my opponent acknowledged the system is flawed. My opponent even admitted that 75% of all appeals were automatically reduced without having to appear before the Board of Equalization. The irony is even employees in the assessor's office itself file appeals against the value of their own properties.
I will be taking some time to reflect what is next for me but I do appreciate all the friends I have made along the way and the outpouring of well wishes. For assistance in filing appeals please go to Tax Blaster LLC
Sincerely,
Gerrit Hale
