Idaho GOP Platform Responses

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Survey and Interview Responses

How long have you lived in Ada County?

I moved to Ada County on June 2, 1987. I lived in 4 states at various times before moving to Idaho almost 39 years ago.

How long have you been a Republican? Any prior party affiliation?

I don’t recall the exact date but I’ve been a Republican for 30 years or more. I was not politically active until my late 30’s. I don’t recall ever being registered with another party, but possibly as an independent.

Have you been involved with any political organizations? (IACI, Idaho Majority Club, IFF, etc.)

I have attended candidate forums and other political events with speakers held by several Republican affiliated groups and followed/read posts of some of the Conservatives of groups on Facebook. I have also participated in candidate forums held by the League of Women Voters.

Have you supported candidates from another party?

None that I recall.

Why are you running for this office?

I have been honored to serve as your Ada County Assessor for the last 3 years, 3 months. I am seeking re-election for one final term in order to continue streamlining and improving the operations of the Assessor’s office.

Have you held elected office before?

Yes. 16 years as an Ada County Highway District Commissioner and 3+ years as Ada County Assessor.

What makes you qualified for this role?

Prior experience in this office and prior experience (16 years) as ACHD Commissioner. I also have a Bachelor degree in Accounting, a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Doctorate in Law. Please review my resume for further details.

If elected, what 2-3 actions do you intend to pursue in your first year?

My priorities are to continue to improve customer service and continue to expand services to our citizens; to continue to assure that property value assessments are accurate, fair, and consistent; to continue to update processes in the office and replace the nearly 30 year old software that is currently used to maintain the property records, assessed value records, and tax records of the 239,000 + parcels of property in Ada County; and to continue to work with elected officials and the legislature to evaluate and pass legislation to lessen the property tax burden.

How have you served your community (boards, nonprofits, etc.)?

14 years as a board member of the Ada County Boys & Girls Club; 6 years as a board member of the Boise Affiliate of the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; 35 years as an active volunteer for the Junior League of Boise; 5 years as a volunteer attorney for guardian ad litem in child protection cases; and other organizations. Please refer to my resume for additional information.

Do you consider yourself fiscally conservative?

Yes. I have been an advocate for reducing property taxes, wise use of tax dollars, protecting private property rights, and promoting fiscally conservative budgets. My voting record as ACHD Commission for 16 years reflects that conservative approach.

Do you consider yourself socially conservative?

Yes. My advocacy efforts have been focused on fiscal issues. I haven’t been involved in advocating on social issues.

I’m running for re-election because, while we’ve made meaningful progress, there’s still important work ahead. In my first term, we focused on improving transparency, efficiency, and customer service. Looking forward, a top priority is replacing our 30-year-old software system that manages over 239,000 properties. It’s outdated, difficult to update, and creates risk since our entire tax system depends on it. Modernizing this system is critical to maintaining accuracy, security, and reliability for Ada County taxpayers.

My top priority is ensuring property assessments are accurate, fair, and transparent. I will continue advocating for a long-overdue software upgrade—an $8 million investment that supports the entire county’s tax system and impacts every taxpayer and taxing district. I also remain committed to strong customer service, including expanding convenient services like driver’s license access without appointments. I’ll continue reinforcing a culture of responsiveness and accountability within the office.

How do you ensure valuations are fair and uniform?

We gather as much data as possible on each transaction to inform our assessments. Because Idaho is a non-disclosure state and only about 60% of sales go through the MLS, this requires careful analysis. We assess properties by neighborhood, recognizing that values vary significantly—for example, between Boise and Meridian. Commercial properties present additional complexity, but our team consistently produces well-supported valuations and can clearly justify each assessment.

How will you address the impact of rapid housing inflation?

The assessor’s office does not have the authority to set or control housing prices or inflation. Our role is to ensure assessments reflect current market conditions fairly and accurately. That said, programs like the Homeowners Exemption help reduce the tax burden. I’m especially committed to ensuring seniors and those on Social Security are aware of available relief programs, and we’ve taken steps to proactively notify eligible residents about these opportunities.

How do you communicate methodology clearly to citizens?

We’ve made significant improvements in how we communicate with the public. Our website now provides detailed information on assessment methods, including historical data, and has been upgraded in collaboration with our IT team. Equally important, we emphasize strong customer service—ensuring staff are prepared to clearly explain how properties are assessed. I will continue reinforcing this standard so citizens feel informed and supported.

What would you do to make the assessment process more transparent?

We’ve already taken meaningful steps to improve transparency by expanding access to information and making assessment data more understandable. Our goal is to ensure citizens can clearly see how their property was assessed and why. Moving forward, we will continue refining how we present this information and support staff in helping residents navigate and understand the process.

What will you do to lower the property tax burden in Ada County?

While the assessor’s office does not set tax rates, we have worked closely with the legislature to support property tax relief efforts, including enhancements to the Homeowners Exemption. I’ve taken a proactive approach to ensure proposed legislation avoids unintended consequences. I’m proud that during my tenure, these efforts have contributed to meaningful tax relief for Ada County residents.