Kumar: The Assessor's Office needs an outsider as leader a changemaker

"I authored The 60+ Property Tax Exemption Act of 2026, an initiative currently being reviewed by the state attorney general before it can be circulated for signatures to qualify for the statewide ballot. While setting rules for tax exemptions is beyond the scope of the job as county assessor, my ballot measure would exempt every California resident age 60 and over from paying property tax on their primary residence. The initiative would require approximately 875,000 signatures to go on the ballot."

"Keeping property tax predictable and fair helps seniors and families stay in their homes and keeps communities stable. When property taxes rise faster than income, seniors are forced to sell their homes and either move or are forced onto the streets. My record is cutting taxes, cutting waste, opposing utility rate hikes and modernizing systems. Specifically, I've: Never voted for a tax increase. Helped defeat 10 San Jose water rate increases. Modernized IT systems as a software and AI executive."

The candidate proposes The 60+ Property Tax Exemption Act of 2026 to exempt every California resident age 60 and over from paying property tax on their primary residence, requiring approximately 875,000 signatures to qualify for the statewide ballot. The campaign uses the same initiative path as Proposition 13 and cites similar policies advanced in other states and Virginia's recent exemption for disabled veterans. The candidate connects predictable property taxes to housing stability for seniors, recounts a record of opposing tax increases and utility rate hikes, modernizing IT as a software and AI executive, refusing PAC money, and pledges to modernize the Assessor's Office.

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