Spokane7
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August 3, 2010 in Opinion
Editorial: Baker proves he’s worth retaining in assessor post
We’ve been hearing a lot about low morale and ineffective leadership in the Spokane County Assessor’s Office. Assessor Ralph Baker discounts the accusations, but the crowded field of five challengers in the primary election makes them hard to ignore.
The rivals have lodged mostly anecdotal complaints about matters ranging from inconsistent training approaches to the inability of citizens to get direct answers.
More important, though, the accuracy and fairness of property appraisals are cause for satisfaction. When the state House of Representatives’ Office of Program Research studied all 39 county assessors’ performance, it ranked Spokane County consistently in the top third for accuracy and in the top two or three for uniformity, which is another word for fairness.
In addition, the incumbent has established a comprehensive and user-friendly website that even some of his opponents like. He has embraced technology to improve accuracy and save money.
Can any of the five challengers improve on that generally strong performance?
Vicki Horton has nine years’ experience as an appraiser in the office. Sadie Charlene Cooney held the assessor’s job for a decade. Andy Jackson is an experienced software programmer with skills to make sure electronic property value records are managed efficiently. Gina McKenzie has a quarter century in real estate. Lori Wick has a strong accounting and auditing background, plus a courthouse insider’s familiarity gained as a county fiscal grants specialist and a recording cashier for the county auditor.
Too bad no one candidate has that full set of credentials. In fact, only three candidates in the six-person field have college degrees, and one is Baker. Only three have experience in the assessor’s office, and one is Baker.
Baker’s chief drawback seems to be impatience. His early push to engage technology was off-putting to citizens who are more comfortable visiting the office in person than online. Even he admits that a phone-menu answering system installed after he took office was a mistake.
At present, an aerial photography system he purchased to help pick up new construction and property improvements has been attacked. Some critics say he should merely use Google or similar search features, but his approach is more likely to generate information tailored to the county’s needs.
It’s no surprise that appraisers in the field and candidates out ringing doorbells hear complaints about an office that influences property owners’ tax bills and sellers’ asking prices.
In contrast, the Office of Program Research did an independent, data-based assessment, applying standards set by the International Association of Assessing Officers, and found that the Spokane County Assessor’s Office does well in aligning property valuations with market value, and especially well at spreading the tax burden fairly.
Baker should take a look at the management issues his challengers have cited, but the dominant consideration for voters is about accuracy and fairness, areas in which Baker’s record is compelling. He has earned another stint in office.
A hypocrite by necessity 
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ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 03 at 6:28 a.m.
Baloney…. John
liarsinnews on August 03 at 6:54 a.m.
Your too polite, John. Its digested food through the bull.
Scoutster on August 03 at 7:43 a.m.
This position is mostly technical and leadership, not policy.
If most of the office doesn’t like the head honcho, and they don’t, it’s time to fill the position with someone who knows how to lead, not just do the technical stuff.
misjustice on August 03 at 8:01 a.m.
Baker won’t be getting my vote…it’s time for him to go!
@ dick; thanks for the chuckle!
worthasecondlook on August 03 at 9:21 a.m.
So, which unqualified candidate are you voting for misjustice? Maybe they will make an exception and let you vote for two people so that you get the same package of education and experience you would with Baker. Being a boss, just like being a parent is not a popularity contest, it is making decisions that bring success which is Baker’s method of operation.
liarsinnews on August 03 at 9:27 a.m.
worthasecondlook: Looks to me as though your one of those people who is feeding the bull.
misjustice on August 03 at 9:35 a.m.
I haven’t decided whom I will chose for assessor, only whom I will NOT vote for; going to cast my ballot at the end of the primary season, in case new information on candidates comes to light.
My final vote is none of your business, just as yours is none of mine.
@ worth; As for voting twice, in the words of Mayor Daley (or Al Capone), “Vote early, vote often!” ; )
misjustice on August 03 at 9:36 a.m.
@ dick; LOL! ; ) awww, a bull does have to eat!
Ron_the_Cop on August 03 at 10:07 a.m.
To All:
I have voted and it wasn’t for Baker. Study the other candidates carefully and make an informed decision. Former Sheriff Tony Bamonte filed a formal criminal complaint with Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. Chief Kirkpatrick returned it marked “returned to sender”. You can read more here:
http://tinyurl.com/2454jjf
My sources tell me that KREM2 will be doing a followup investigative piece on the Assessor’s Office this Thursday between 5PM and 6PM. I’m also told that the Inlander will have an informative piece on the Assessor’s Office.
If you’re undecided wait for these pieces to cast your vote. Decide for yourself whether it’s information or just political hit pieces.
Here’s a comment from another source re Baker and the S-R’s endorsement:
“… when they refer to ‘accuracy’ and ranking in the top third of state assessor performance, I’m certain they’re speaking of the ‘ratio reports’ that are done every year. The problem with those is appraisers can ‘shoot sales’ and bring their ratio reports right up where they should be. Those reports DO NOT grade omitted properties, poor moral, or accuracy on the appraisal approaches to value amongst a few. I’ve … run a successful company and I can guarantee you a ‘college degree’ is not what that office needs. It needs an honest person with ethics and common sense who knows how to manage people- the technology comes with the territory- it’s not some ‘amazing’ thing that Ralph Baker came up with- neither is the website! when I was a fee appraiser the only county without a website was Pend Oreille. . .
worthasecondlook on August 03 at 10:09 a.m.
@dick-n-misjustice,
“Vote: the instrument and symbol of a free man’s power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.” -unknown
Seems applicable to your brand of misinformed political point of view.
misjustice on August 03 at 10:16 a.m.
@ worth; so I guess that you won’t be voting? LMFAO! ; )
worthasecondlook on August 03 at 10:22 a.m.
I already voted and even volunteer to take elderly voters to help get the vote out.
Lulubelle on August 03 at 2:37 p.m.
So worthasecondlook……where are you “taking” elderly voters? Last time I checked we vote by mail now.
And NO, I didn’t for Ralphie……..what is the S-R thinking.
newassessornow on August 03 at 6:32 p.m.
Of course Mr. Baker discounts the accusations of low moral and ineffective leadership. What else is new? He discounted the over $20 mil in missing properties too! If the State House of Reps study was so accurate why didn’t they find all the missing properties?!?! It’s a NUMBERS GAME that’s why! It’s not to tough to ‘fudge the numbers’ so to speak. Lot’s of companies have their ratios and many folks know how to make them look good. As to the candidates having or not having college degrees- what’s that have to do with it? If the political shape of this country is any indication of how important a college degree is then we don’t need one! I’m all for education but there are many ways to get educated. I’d rather vote for a candate with COMMON SENSE and DECENCY- maybe even PEOPLE SKILLS! Now let’s touch on the accuracy and fairness Baker claims. Had the whistleblower not come forward would the county even be aware today of those missing properties? And where is the whistleblower today?
newassessornow on August 03 at 6:43 p.m.
I’d also love to hear Mr. Baker’s comments as to why he’s lost 12, count ‘em 12 employee’s between 2005 and now? I’m sure something was wrong with all 12 of them right Ralph??
worthasecondlook on August 03 at 8:11 p.m.
@lulubelle, seniors tend to need to go get stamps to mail ballots but I try to take then to the election building by the courhouse so they get the full outing experience.
@newassessornow,
1. It is not 20million it esd 2 million if you look at the archived articles from the press and public release of the whistleblower itself. 2. 12 employees were lost due to vounteer early retirement and finding other better paying jobs.
worthasecondlook on August 04 at 10:15 a.m.
Here is the report done by national standards and an impartial agency independent of the assessor’s office. Can’t argue with reality. I cannot vote based on sensationalism from sexual deviant Randy Shaw nor fictional writings by
former Sheriff Bamonte-turned fiction author. I choose to base voting decisions (that affect my family, neighbors and children) on education, experience and job performance versus popularity contests with unions and the press. Hopefully, there are a few more like me out there.
http://www.spokanecounty.org/loaddoc.aspx?docid=5296
eagleproducer on August 05 at 10:09 a.m.
The Spokesman endorsed Baker for assessor, again? No freaking way? Who’d have guessed this amazing development?
I hope there is a general election debate for this position so I can ask Baker how much the Cowles owned RPS garage was devalued during his term of office.
worsethancookedbooks: There are droves of your ilk that consistently vote against their best interests Don’t worry your pointed head about their influence waning any time soon. Let me know when Baker, The Cowles, et. al. file a libel/defamation lawsuit against Mr. Bamonte. Their silence on the matter speaks volumes.
The assessor and a host of other administrative leadership positions in the county should not be political offices. Where is the need for partisanship when assessing property values? Why would one seek/want endorsements if their claim is to objectively evaluate every property using the same criteria? Baker simply carries the water for the developers/business interests who help him get into power. He’s their lackey and does their bidding and OUR ENTIRE GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL OPERATES SIMILARLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
worthasecondlook on August 05 at 2:23 p.m.
I want some of what spoketucky is smoking…..or do you have to have a prescription for that?
newassessornow on August 05 at 3:42 p.m.
worthasecondlook you REALLY need to get your facts straight before you start spewing your venom!! talk about get personal!! Randy Shaw is NOT a sexual deviant- he won a lawsuit over that deal and what an absolutly SICK thing for you to say!!
Here’s another FYI- It absolutly was $20 million in missing improvements from the taxrolls!!! Do you know the difference between two million and 20 million?? There is documentation to back that up so maybe you need to research!
Sounds as though this whole thing is getting a little personal for you- what’s up with that? I’m betting you’re very close to this matter- say working in the office maybe?!?!?
And as to the senior citizens I’m sure your hearts in the right place and you not doing it to solicit votes right? I’ll bet you visit senior centers all year long just to be of assistance right???
newassessornow on August 05 at 3:56 p.m.
Oh and ‘worthasecondlook’ you better do your research on where those folks are that left the office- or do I need to educate you??
Here you go-
-2 went to other offices in the county due to administration
-2 did find other jobs but that came about due to the administration as well
-2 were basically forced into early retirement due to another one of Mr. Baker’s re-organization games.
-1 took early retirement due to administration
-1 took early retirement
- the whistleblower was placed under the supervision of the person she blew the whistle on- and Mr. Baker claims it was for budgetary reasons- come on does he think we’re STUPID?!?!?
-2 employees were basically harassed out
- only one possibily had a legitimate reason for either leaving or being dismissed- not certain details.
So again CHECK YOUR FACTS- are you on the promotion list at the assessor’s office or what?!?!?!?
worthasecondlook on August 05 at 5:53 p.m.
newassessornow,
Rather than spend more time researching, I will use your info and summarize it.
So, nobody was fired or layed off by your own admission? They found new jobs or took handsome early retirement bonuses. Point made.
Randy Shaw did not get his job back nor a settlement in his lawsuit so if he did nothing he sure got no love there.
Fact remains, Baker is still the best candidate and I do lots of charity work whether or not there is an election. Don’t really care what your agenda is as you have no traction. You seem close to the situation and the time is ticking down for you with the primary drawing to a close. I make a very good living via my various business interests and would never put my financial future in the hands of some “assessor’s office or any other office promotion list.” Perhaps you work in the assessor’s office or a similar office where you are a dead end employee who has an ax to grind. Grind on office rat, grind on.
Ron_the_Cop on August 05 at 6:47 p.m.
KREM2 just ran it’s new piece tonight and will have a Part 2 tomorrow night:
http://www.krem.com/news/local/Assessors-Mess-new-fraud-complaints-100078164.html
BTW Randy Shaw’s demise at KHQ probably had more to do with the investigative reporting he was doing with construction fraud investigator Steve Rudd on the RPS expansion project then this sexual misconduct charge. This investigation was shut down from above.
Read Shook’s reporting here:
http://www.krem.com/news/local/Assessors-Mess-new-fraud-complaints-100078164.html
Scroll down until you see the photo Steve Rudd and then this piece:
Steve Rudd, one of the Northwest’s top construction fraud investigators, says he provided evidence in 1999 to the former anchorman of the Cowles-owned NBC television station in Spokane that the garage was not inspected and appeared to suffer from poor workmanship and materials. Rudd says the former Cowles anchorman, Randy Shaw, told him his superiors would not let him cover the story. Shaw confirmed Rudd’s account.
worthasecondlook on August 05 at 6:52 p.m.
Everything leads back to fiction…..gotta hand it to you ron, you do peddle your product. I already bought two of them and they were a good read but not a voter’s guide.
Ron_the_Cop on August 05 at 7:03 p.m.
Why do I get the feeling that this person may have a special relationship with a manager in this office that is covering for her. Baker is the captain of the ship. The ship is listing and may sink Baker will go down with the ship.
worthasecondlook on August 05 at 7:09 p.m.
Now it is a romantic novel? Something like the titanic? I could write the screenplay.
newassessornow on August 05 at 7:17 p.m.
worthasecondlook-
grind on office rat grind on- back at ya!
no I’m not an office rat and I’m certainly not going to waste any more time on this- maybe you have plenty of time to waste but I don’t. I’m sick to death of reading your personal attacks on folks- very childish- you’re obviously uninformed and had so much smoke blown up your hinie there’s no hope.
now before I lower myself too much more I’ll sign off and not read anymore of your dribble
by now- we’ll see what the primary brings huh?!?!?
misjustice on August 05 at 7:19 p.m.
@ Worth; Ralph, is that you?
worthasecondlook on August 05 at 7:32 p.m.
lol….not ralph, he seems to be more articulate and interested in this than I am….marco..polo….marco…..polo…..Most of my interests and properties are actually in other states…this town just has the most amusing out of touch people so it is more fun to comment on this town’s news than others. One way or another my life won’t change much based on the election but for some it may change drastically and it is those that I hope weigh the candidates and their qualifications. I can leave you few to your devices, I don’t want to ruin your fun. Ignorance is bliss, sorry for interrupting your bliss.
eagleproducer on August 05 at 9:14 p.m.
“Drastic change” in regards to property valuation in Spokane County would mean stop forcing Joe the Plumber to subsidize the wealthiest citizens.
A boy can dream…
eagleproducer on August 05 at 10:56 p.m.
i think worse is probably one of the vandevert clan.
Ron_the_Cop on August 06 at 6:32 p.m.
KREM2 just reported the second part of their most recent investigative report on the Assessor’s Office.
You decide who was telling the truth in this segment:
Now up on the KREM2 website in advance of the broadcast of tonight’s segment:
Baker finally talks about ‘Assessor’s Mess’
http://www.krem.com/news/local/Baker-finally-talks-about-Assessors-Mess-100159499.html
Following our second investigation into reports of missing properties from the tax roles, KREM 2 News received some troubling information. Ralph Baker had ordered someone in his office to look into Randy Shaw and the properties he might own in Spokane County.
“Why would you do that?” asked Shaw.
“Well, first of all you’re saying I pulled your records?” questioned Baker.
“You ordered it,” replied Shaw.
“That’s false…totally false,” answered Baker.
Shaw handed him a copy of an email from one of his own employees to Baker concerning him and a call Shaw made to the Assessor’s Office several years ago about his own assessment. Baker confirmed the memo was written.
“After what you had filed what I thought was a very biased and accusatory article I asked Ray to make a memo about what you’d said,” said Baker.
“Why?” asked Shaw.
“I just wanted to know,” replied Baker.
“Why would you have my records and then a guy by the name of Ray Amundson reports to you and your saying you didn’t order it?” said Shaw.
“No, I’m not saying I didn’t order it, I asked Ray,” said Baker.
“Wait a minute. You just said a minute ago you didn’t order it and now you’re saying you may have ordered it. Did you order my records looked at and a report on me based on whether I had a problem with your office?” asked Shaw.
“No,” replied Baker.
silverpen12 on August 07 at 10:14 a.m.
Back to the Editorial: Factual and well written. Thank you S/R for the honest opinion.
eagleproducer on August 07 at 10:24 a.m.
silverpen: The article fails to mention how properties owned by the publisher received lower property valuations during Baker’s term. That is not honest and this is not an opinion piece. It’s an ad for Baker.
I hope people watched the Randy Shaw’s reporting about Baker. How a snake like him got elected in the first place is beyond me, even though I know many people in Spokane who will check the box on the ballot next to anyone with a capital “R” next to their names.
worthasecondlook on August 07 at 11:07 a.m.
silverpen,
It is an admirable stance to take to support baker or anyone who has tried to effect change with internal resistance throughout history. Undermining coworkers to the press and filing whistleblower and fraud complaints are underhanded and a detriment to any work environment. Just wanted to give you a “fist bump” for seeing through the bs and getting back to the core of the issue here. It is a lot easier to criticize than to roll up your sleeves and get the work done.
silverpen12 on August 07 at 11:25 a.m.
spoketucky: All I know is my property value has gone up and down over the past few years, mostly up until recently just like all my neighbors. As for you and the Cowles, I imagine it’s the same. Real estate fluctuates. That’s why it’s called a market. As for Randy Shaw, my sense is he has an ax to grind. Not sure I’d put a lot of credibility into a story where he himself edits the interview. I’d rather see or hear an unedited interview to get the real story. You can do anything if it’s edited. Did you see how the recent Shirley Sherrod video was guilty of this? Totally biased.
worthasecondlook on August 07 at 11:57 a.m.
All of my properties have gone up and down as well both here and in a couple other states. I would imagine that the cowles properties are vast areas of land with trees and stuff and that their values are more stable since not much of that stuff changes hands often. I don’t like to pay any more taxes than necessary but am wary of anyone who tries to campaign on lower assessments and taxes. Lower taxes is an irrational thought that will not stand the test of time. Everyday there are more and more costs associated with freedom and living in a country that offers freedom hence more tax burden. Do any of the candidates have a plan to remove these employees who are costing the taxpayers so much in lost time and productivity? Looks like a lot of wasted time went into these complaints and interviews with krem etc, this time should be charged to these employees so we, as taxpayers, don’t have to pay these wages. I do not remember agreeing to hire people to audit each other, interview with the news, undermine the leaders we elected etc. It is amazing that baker has gotten so much done in the 5 years he has been in office while trying to dodge this group of employees. He has alot more patience and composure than I would with this scenario. His ability to accomplish all he has with his productive employees while these few are pulling the rug out from under the rest of the office is reason enough to vote for him.
Ron_the_Cop on August 07 at 12:12 p.m.
Worthasecondlook,
Debi Mason no longer works for the Assessor’s Office and Kent’s job was eliminated. So they’re on camera appearances are on their own nickles. Now whether this is sour grapes is for the voters to decide. The KREM2 video of Friday’s broadcast is now up:
http://www.krem.com/news/local/Baker-finally-talks-about-Assessors-Mess-100159499.html
worthasecondlook on August 07 at 12:44 p.m.
Ron the cop,
The taxpayer money wasted would be the time required compiling the data and discussing it instead of just measuring the house (ms. mason) and the time spent investigating time cards, discussing and printing all those documents 89 pages (ms. kent). Both of which happened while in the employ of the county which means our taxes were paying for this.
If we assume that a county employee costs us $40/hr($20/hr wage, retirement benefits, ss benefit, health care, dental care, vision care, life insurance) then ms. kent’s investigative work alone could total 20 hours plus consorting with other employees another 10 hours (before she retired per her statement). Plus ms. mason’s time spent compiling her data while on the job out in the neighborhoods (instead of appraising the property) 20 hours. This adds up to about $2k which is the taxes I paid on one of my rental properties last year….that money will never see a school or meet the needs of this community. I am grossly underestimating the time involved here as I have not even delved into the human resource time spent on this or the lawyers of the time spent responding to the press. This is a colossal waste of taxpayer money. If ms. mason would have just added the property as she found it, which is her job, instead of going this route, this money would be being used to save lives, jobs etc. According to the krem article, the next appraiser, mr. bungen, just added the new construction as needed, apparently without the whistleblower, fraud complaint, press releases. I hope they hire more productive, team player employees like that so my tax dollars aren’t wasted on all this political mess.
goldenchoice on August 08 at 2:37 p.m.
My understanding is that Ms. Kent was, during this timeframe, the “employees’ ” supervisor, Do we give Ms. Kent a pass for not following up on the new construction permits distributed to employees? Wasn’t Ms. Kent in charge of the distribution and completion of these permits? (Documents show the “employee” Ms. Kent continues to accuse was unable to measure new construction due to surgeries and a pregnancy during this timeline. Also, Ralph Baker was not the Assessor during this timeframe. Time will tell that this investigation has done nothing but wasted a lot of county employees’ time spent on gathering erroneous or misleading information and tax dollars. It is amazing that anything can get done around there with these people taking cheap shots at the employees of that department
newassessornow on August 08 at 8:35 p.m.
Worth2- Your not getting it! Debi Mason recovered MILLIONS for this county- she did NO investigation on county time other than discover the missing properties- did you READ the WB? If you ask around the office you’ll find she actually did her own work plus the work of the previous appraiser and helped others in the office as well so don’t give me this ##&% that Debi Mason and Barb Kent weren’t doing their jobs- you have ABSOLUTLY NO IDEA- speak the truth not a bunch of BS just to defend Ralph Baker!! The person who cost this county was the one who WAS NOT DOING HER JOB and the people responsible for that FARSE of an investigation!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have ABSOLUTLY NO IDEA how time consuming it is to have to follow after someone who REALLY doesn’t do their job! The statement that Barb Kent was responsible for distributing the permits is totally false- the subject of the WB was in posession of EVERY permit! DID YOU READ THE WB!!! If not you better READ IT!!! Your spewing a bunch of speculation
newassessornow on August 08 at 8:49 p.m.
as to the comment about the accused being unable to work due to surgeries ect- WHY was she given permission to go out into the field and drive around, collect mileage and do no work???? That was NOT Barbara Kent who gave this directive! No one else has been given that option- they stay in the office and work- not out in the field where they not only put themselves at risk but the taxpayers of this county! THAT’S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS!
worthasecondlook on August 08 at 8:51 p.m.
newass,
It is not hard to notice that the docs in the wb and the timecard complaint are county docs, screenshots etc so they had to have prepared them while on county time. There are dozens of pages of county specific docs. Wasted taxpayer money by not doing their jobs and complaining about other people to no avail.
newassessornow on August 08 at 9:18 p.m.
worthless- the complaint WAS NOT done on county time- the property records were printed as evidence however not copied with county time or money- if you really read the $^%# thing you’d know that- Again the waste of time is the fact that this has been going on for years now and for some reason nothing has been done about it but waste thousands of dollars in a cover-up. It’s about time these people be accountable- If it were just a few properties I would agree with you but there were 60 homes, 29 manufactured homes, numerous outbuildings, additions and misc. items missed in one schedule! By one person! Who said she inspected them! This WAS NOT new construction! These were improvements THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME THIS PERSON SAID SHE INSPECTED THEM, then she signed a LEGAL document stating she INSPECTED THEM!!! GET IT???!!!
worthasecondlook on August 09 at 7:20 a.m.
Apparently, since this person was recovering from surgery and pregnancy she received help from coworkers (hopefully not people like you) but ended up signing the areas off as complete. Perhaps, this could have been handled differently. Perhaps, ms. kent, her supervisor, could have had each individual coworker sign off on each property instead of accepting it signed off in bulk. So, bottom line, some stuff was missed, the assigned employee did have 2 surgeries and a pregnancy during the timeframe and also received help from numerous coworkers. There are too many people and medical issues in the mix to burn somebody at the stake. Besides, do we as a society want to be known for attacking govt employees when they are sick, injured or pregnant? I am embarassed as part of this county population for all of this and hope people who want to move here don’t think we are all this toxic and vindictive.
bszottlinger on August 09 at 12:00 p.m.
worthasecondlook:
A little bliss.
I only get toxic and vindictive when government employees waste my money on company time. You sure have some inside stuff. I hope I don’t have to be toxic and vindictive toward you.
Brad Szottlinger
worthasecondlook on August 09 at 12:50 p.m.
I agree brad, all this complaining is a complete waste of money, especially, since no investigative authority found any fraud. The work should just get done as that is what we are paying them to do. If someone misses something help them. Any “inside” info you want or are interested can be found by just calling the assessor or his staff and asking questions. It is after all a public office. That is who I call when I want more background info on assessor related news etc. P.S. I don’t care if you are toxic and vindictive towards me, whatever floats your boat. At the end of the day I have to look at myself in the mirror and decide whether my actions and opinions are constructive or destructive. After all kids and grandkids look at our lives everyday for guidance. There doesn’t appear to be clear, intentional wrongdoing here, yet a small group keeps insisting on crucifying someone. To me that is toxic and vindictive.
misjustice on August 09 at 1:29 p.m.
@ Worth; Ralphie, give it up already! Thou doth protest too much!
worthasecondlook on August 09 at 2:16 p.m.
@misjustice….flattered. not interested in political office, though.
bszottlinger on August 09 at 4:16 p.m.
worthasecondlook:
I hate being toxic and vindictive it just doesn’t float my boat.
Do you think if I just called the assessors office they would let me send someone down to copy all the assessors’ office hard drives? Or would they just refer me to the IT department and tell me to get the info off the county server? Shucks, I’m only looking for stuff from about four weeks ago up to today. I wasn’t aware Randy Shaw is a “sexual deviant” I will make sure the grandkids don’t watch that newscast any more.
Ron_the_Cop:
Can you please get on this between sign waving? Need a date and time specific FOIA request for county computer interaction to the SR server. It shouldn’t take the county IT people more then an hour or so to get the info. The county will fight it but it would be hard for them to justify not providing the data if the interaction was from a government computer to a specific server utilized by the media and the public to disseminate non-privileged information.
Thx,
Brad
worthasecondlook on August 09 at 5:54 p.m.
brad,
http://www.allbusiness.com/trends-events/dismissals/7705046-1.html
I think there is a public records request process. Not sure if you need a retired cop, sheriff/author or anyone else. They are always forthcoming when I call with questions. Legitimacy of a topic (whistleblower, fraud complaint) is not established or even helped by the usual gang of conspiracy theorists jumping in. While there are some entertaining books to read among that group, they do not lend legitimacy to topics around here. Usually, they increase the disbelief in the topic and ultimately people tune out. Just look at the archives….lots of comments then the shook, bamonte, ron crowd descend and people tune out & quit commenting. If the idea is good, it doesn’t need an author. Cream rises to the top and name recognition should not be criteria for good ideas. ~anonymous
bszottlinger on August 09 at 7:18 p.m.
Worthasecondlook:
I was just being blissfully facetious. Believe it or not, I just happen to know a little about PDRs (FOIA). I am also very, very aware that government officials and public employees either don’t know or continually forget that all of their computer interaction beyond just emails is retrievable. You would be astounded as to how dumb some people can be. I had a computer forensic examiner explain it to me this way once. People fall in love with their computers whether at home or at work and they just don’t believe the computer will ever hurt them. I asked her if she was in love with her computer and she said Nah, I have a boy friend. She was a cutie too but way to young for me. There have been many public corruption cases made by retrieving data from government computers and it looks like there is a lot of smoke here whether there is fire or not I don’t know but you would think that with all the smoke people would have sense enough to go home use their own computer and then blast away. As for me, hell I used to use carbon paper so I’m not in love with this thing. My point is play with these darn things as much as you want just don’t do it on my dime. It is a pet peeve of mine.
There is a big difference between a sexual harassment allegation and a statement that an individual is a sexual deviant. That was a bit toxic sir.
Brad
worthasecondlook on August 09 at 7:35 p.m.
point taken, s!@ual harrassment (allegedly).
goldenchoice on August 10 at 9:26 p.m.
WHOA!!! Anyone that knows the facts, has RELIABLE sources and doesn’t get sucked into the spin presented by the media, knows there isn’t any kind of conspiracy, fraud, or crime being committed in the Assessor’s office. This is just malicious nonsense attacking innocent people for personal gain. It is amazing and frightening that any of these unjustified and unfounded claims have been presented to the public without better scrutiny. Can’t we put all of our energy and resources into serving the county that we serve in a professional manner? Every Assessor’s Office has a difficult time with public relations as it is, so let’s not allow a few bad apples to spoil the whole crop. After all, Spokane County does have one of the top Assessor’s Offices in the State of Washington (under Assessor Ralph Baker)
Ron_the_Cop on August 11 at 10:06 a.m.
Goldenchoice,
Respectfully I don’t consider former Sheriff Tony Bamonte a conspiracy theorist. From his work I’ve seen he’s very methodical and meticulous. He’s done considerable investigation on what appears to be preferential property tax appraisals by the Assessor’s Office. Baker and his senior staffer refused to answer Bamonte’s followup questions. Instead Baker has a lengthy partial explanation on the Republican’s Club website.
Anyway for further do read Larry Shook’s piece on this:
http://tinyurl.com/2454jjf
Chief Kirkpatrick rejected Bamonte’s criminal complaint against Baker out of hand by marking his package “return to sender.” Why? This was very unprofessional on her part. Even if it was “bunk” she should have generated a face page police report. If Spokane PD did not have the in house expertise to make a determination on Bamonte’s complaint it should have referred it to another agency for an appropriate deposition.
To not document Bamonte’s complaint is a red flag to me indicative of possible corruption.
Det. Ron Wright (Retired)
worthasecondlook on August 11 at 11:35 a.m.
Just like with hawaii and all the relentless requests for Barrack Obama’s birth certificate. If it becomes the norm for baseless complaints to be filed from the same group with no new findings of fraud etc then it becomes a repetitive waste of taxpayer money to entertain them. I wouldn’t have a problem with a complaint, then some research, then a decision one way or the other. It becomes a colossal waste of time and money and resources to continue to let the same conspiracy take time away from the normal business the county is required to do by law.
Ron the cop, shook and bamonte are all very rich in the history and behind closed doors hearsay and goings ons of spokane for the last century but the bulk of their compilations have yet to become acknowledged as the concrete historical recollection accepted by all.
I don’t have a problem with subjective speculation about how things went 50 years ago about people who are mostly dead or retired. It is when these same speculations start coming into current government and start wasting taxpayer money to research and defend the county that I am frustrated. I do not want my taxes to go up but they will inevitably go up now that the county is spending so much of its bare bones budget to investigate and respond to this stuff.
If you believe in it so much then perhaps you should form a group and raise the money to pay for the responses to these complaints by hiring an employee and paying that employee to be your goto person every time you have a conspiracy theory you want to complain about.
I remember when I was a kid, the people around the lake community where I lived wanted more police patrolling their neighborhood so they formed a committee and raised the money to donate to the city police force to get their own patrolman assigned to their area. Something like this would be fair to the part of the public who can’t afford to have a tax increase to pay for this witch hunt.
How much new construction will be missed in the future because the assessor’s office had to interview and research all of these complaints instead of doing their job of assessing? It is a snowball effect. Are you part of the solution or the problem? The solution is to find the new construction and add it to the property. It seems like the only thing people want is to get people reprimanded for missing this new construction from 8-10 years ago. What is the statute of limitations on missing new construction that other employees were supposed to help with while the subject employee was pregnant and recovering from multiple knee surgeries? Is it as long as their coworkers are alive and can keep refiling complaints, whistleblowers?
How many investigations is enough? 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,100? How many investigations if the cost to taxpayers is $4k ($40/hr (wage and benefits) X 100 hours=$4k) If the average home has $2k in annual taxes that means every time someone files a whistleblower or fraud charge/krem exclusive the county uses 2 homeowner’s taxes to investigate….per agency investigating. I think ms. kent sent the complaint to the auditor, prosecutor at least so there goes $8k or 4 taxpayers annual taxes. That is a lot of school supplies or homeless shelter food.
Here is the link to baker’s response referenced above.
http://spokanerepublicanclub.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=28201&mname=Article&rpid=6503
Ron_the_Cop on August 11 at 11:47 a.m.
worthasecondlook
I agree with some of your points. Chief Kirkpatrick should have acted on Bamonte’s criminal complaint - received with police report and then do nothing but to reject it out of hand is very unprofessional.
I believe there are issues in the Assessor’s Office that need to be dealt with and the fact we’re talking about it doesn’t bode well for Baker in any event.
I’m just making the information available so others can determine what the truth is and hold their elected accountable at the ballot box should they chose to do so. Nothing more - nothing less.
worthasecondlook on August 11 at 12:13 p.m.
You have to admit that since the “new construction issue” period of time was before baker was elected that whoever would have been elected next would be the scapegoat in this current press “exclusive.” It seems that they should call up the prior assessor and ms. kent and ask them to account for these things versus the next guy elected. I agree that the ballot box is the place for the public to show what they want and I will respect any outcome without complaint. The majority will speak and that will hopefully be the end to this tax money wasting debacle.
4203 on August 11 at 1:11 p.m.
The fact that the Spokane Police Chief reportedly returned Bamonte’s complaint package to him concerning the Assessor’s Office - as unopened and return to sender is unprofessional. The whistleblowers in the Assessor’s Office are solid citizens and we owe them our thanks for illustrating the areas which need reform — especially the need to vote in a new guy.
worthasecondlook on August 11 at 1:18 p.m.
It should be common sense to vote for the most qualified guy with the most successful experience who has the education to match. Just voting in someone new doesn’t solve a complaint about something from 8-10 years ago. Sometimes someone new is worse than the incumbent…Carter anyone?