Editorial: Fligor is ready to be Santa Clara County assessor. Her opponent is not.

"After no candidate received a majority of the vote in last month's special election for assessor, the race now comes down to a Dec. 30 runoff between one contender highly qualified for the job and one seeking to politicize the office. We urge voters not to be sucked in by some of the campaign diversions amplified during the runoff. Instead, look for a candidate to replace retiring Assessor Larry Stone who will focus on doing the job."

"Fligor is well-prepared to lead the assessor's 250-person office. That's because she has already been its second-in-command since July. In this position, she has overseen many of the office's most important responsibilities, including producing its $750 billion assessment roll and managing the multi-million-dollar replacement of its outdated software system. Fligor, who also serves on the Los Altos City Council, has earned the endorsement of both ex-Assessor Stone and many county unions, with which he often disagrees."

The Dec. 30 runoff for Santa Clara County assessor pits Neysa Fligor against Rishi Kumar after no majority winner in the special election. The assessor role sets property values for tax calculations on over 500,000 county parcels and does not set tax rates. Fligor serves as assistant assessor, oversees a 250-person office, produced the $750 billion assessment roll, and managed replacement of outdated software. Fligor is the only certified tax appraiser in the race, has legal experience, and has endorsements from ex-Assessor Larry Stone and several county unions. Kumar is portrayed as attempting to politicize the office.

Read at The Mercury News