No more on-the-job training

As a retired assessor’s office employee and a former lead residential appraiser, I am endorsing Sadie Charlene Cooney for county assessor. During her 39 years in the assessor’s office, including 10 as assessor, she has shown insight, management skills and leadership benefiting both taxpayers and office employees. I know this from working both with her and for her for 25 years.

In his campaign handouts, current Assessor Ralph Baker makes many disparaging accusations about past conditions and procedures in the assessor’s office. Please take these with a grain of salt, as they are gross misrepresentations of what was occurring at that time.

Mr. Baker seems to relish his role as “savior” of an underperforming office when he became assessor six years ago. However, wasn’t he second in command to assessor Duane Sommers prior to being appointed assessor? Perhaps he had much, if not all, to do with the problems of the office he “rescued” a few years later.

Recent years have shown that on-the-job training by two assessors with no experience is no substitute for knowledge, skill and experience in the leadership of such an important office. I vote for Sadie Cooney to restore credibility to this underappreciated office.

Jack A. Buss

Spokane