Spokane7
61°Quick links: 2012 graduating seniors • Summer camp guide • Jobs: The Road Ahead • Prep sports • News quiz
Another Republican Spokane County officeholder will face a challenge within the party and within his office. But it appears this time the incumbent won’t discipline his challenger.
Vicki Horton, a residential appraiser in the county assessor’s office, filed paperwork this week with the state Public Disclosure Commission indicating that she will challenge her boss, Assessor Ralph Baker, in the August primary.
Last week, Deputy Prosecutor Dave Stevens, a Republican, announced he was challenging his boss, GOP Prosecutor Steve Tucker. Stevens criticized Tucker’s leadership and referred to Tucker as “an absent administrator.” Tucker placed Stevens on paid leave the next day.
Baker confirmed on Tuesday that he plans to run for reelection. When told by a reporter that Horton was running, Baker said: “That’s great.” He added that he was surprised she decided to pursue the office but that he had no reason to discipline her for running. Baker called Horton “a very good employee.”
Horton, who is the union shop steward for the office, said Baker is “a very nice person,” but added: “I have a few things I would like to see different.”
She said the office needs a better relationship with other county departments, like the treasurer’s and auditor’s offices. Horton has been an appraiser in the office since 2001. Horton, 55, also is the former chief deputy assessor in Clearwater County, Idaho.
Baker, 57, said his goal for the office is to continue improving technology to help the office work more efficiently, especially because of recent layoffs.
“There is more to be done in the assessor’s office that I can affect change on,” he said.
This is the second time that Baker has faced a challenge from within his own party. In 2006, he won a close and bitter primary challenge against then-Spokane City Councilman Brad Stark.
Baker was appointed to the job in 2005 after serving as the chief deputy assessor for two years. He was elected to the position in 2006.
One Democrat also has entered the race.
Andrew Jackson, 47, a software programmer who lives in Spokane Valley, announced his bid last fall. He said he wants to improve morale and the office’s interaction with the public.
Jackson is the son of Sally Jackson, a longtime Democratic activist who recently led a campaign to revoke Spokane Valley’s status as a city. He pointed to his math and computer science degrees as well as former experience as a manager as evidence that he’s ready to lead the assessor’s office. He said he’s met with former assessor employees, including former Assessor John McBride, about the duties of the job. This is Jackson’s first run for office.
The assessor’s office calculates property values, which are used by the county treasurer to determine how much people owe in property taxes.
(ABOVE PHOTO: Ralph Baker takes the oath of office for Spokane County assessor on Jan. 4, 2005, replacing Duane Sommers. Photo by Christopher Anderson, The Spokesman-Review.)
Jim Camden is a veteran political reporter for The Spokesman-Review.
Jonathan Brunt covers Spokane City Hall for The Spokesman-Review.
999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201
P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210
Main switchboard: (509) 459-5000 • (800) 338-8801
Newsroom: (509) 459-5400 • (800) 789-0029
Customer service: (800) 338-8801
© Copyright 2012, The Spokesman-Review
Terms of use • Privacy policy • Copyright policy
ultra_litigator on February 09 at 11:16 p.m.
Ralph has really turned that office around. I thought he was off to a rough start when he first got the job. I was lucky enough to hear him talk about what he’s done and wants to do last month. He knows what he’s doing.
sixandseven on February 10 at 3:12 p.m.
If Ralph would un-goof up his user hostile web site. Kludge.
worthasecondlook on February 10 at 3:35 p.m.
Ralph is a consumate professional and represents the office that way. Vicki tends to represent herself unprofessionally both in attire as well as her lack of business communication skills and technology savvy. She is also a proponent for doing less work for more money and hiring when we are in a recession. It would be two steps back to consider her as a viable competitor in this arena. Clearwater County has under 9,000 people whereas Spokane County has 462,000. It would make no sense to take a professional with an established track record of efficiency and innovative thinking out of the driver’s seat to let a child drive. She is a nice person but not a leader.
ZagChuck on February 12 at 2:35 a.m.
Steve Tucker should hire Ralph for some instructions on leadership!! Ralph has always been a class act, and his response is no surprise to me.
Also necessary is a slight correction to the reporting staff. Brad Stark confused party members for a while, but was disavowed by the Republican Party before the election, so while he was a memeber of the party when he filed for the job, he wasn’t when he lost the race.
It could’ve been one of any number of things, his voting reecord, his donations to leftists, or the scandal at the radio station…. it was more than likely a combination of all of those things.
BEWARE! Perhaps people should remember that, as this Newspaper keeps trying to prop up Brad Stark. BEWARE!
Dingoabc on March 03 at 9:09 a.m.
Ralph is a consumate professional? Isn’t it his job to make sure all properties are accounted for? Why are there millions of dollars in missing properties from the tax roll?
I have known Vicki for many years and have worked with her in the past. I know that she is professional and she does dress for the job. She always goes above and beyond to get the job done as well as help others where help is needed. I also know she doesn’t do any of the hiring in that office. I believe the assessor makes those final decisions.
So let me get this straight. Ralph wants to put out the funds for an “eye in the sky” to catch all the missed properties? How about making sure the job is done from the ground first.
mbuster on June 11 at 10:16 a.m.
To say that Ralph Baker has run the Assessor’s office as a professional is completely untrue and shows the ignorance of those you would say such. Please remember when he shut down the website for a week after Krem 2 aired their report showing that over 60 homes in one area where not being assessed. This cost the county millions of dollars. I work in the real estate industry and have to deal with the Assessor’s office on a daily basis. Not only is the morale low but the errors continue to grow. It has become obvious for those who have to deal with the Assessor’s office that the information coming from the Assessor’s office is wrong just as much as it is right. This Assessor has created an absolute mess and needs to go. It is time for new leadership with someone who has experience to do the job. That is why I am voting for Vicki. She does have the experience and knows what needs to be fixed.