The race is traditionally a sleepy one but an incumbent, Richard W. Hinkley, was thrown out of office in a hotly contested 1997 race in which Mr. Berthiaume finished second to winner Robert Pacheco. His previous superior, former Sheriff David Nelson, whom Mr. Berthiaume said is a neighbor, held a fund-raiser for him. The New Bedford Assessors Office is thought by both candidates in this year's race to have turned the corner from a time when it was extremely troubled. An assessor must be fair and equitable in his practices or the taxpayers whom he does not favor will pick up the slack for those whom he does favor, Mr. Treadup said. Assessors should not become involved in political issues that concern other public officials and assessing is not an ambiguous process, but rather a precise one that is defined by law, he said.
Some people sound like they're running for councilor, like they want to improve the city.
The New Bedford City Council, he said, has approved several written motions asking the present assessors to make the practices of their office better known in the community. Specifically, Mr. Berthiaume says the assessors office should be more active in informing city residents about the various exemptions and abatements available to groups like the elderly, disabled and veterans. He suggests that assessors consider conducting neighborhood and other public meetings to give residents a clearer understanding of the assessment and abatement process and the deadlines related to them. They've not made a single effort to train and inform. Mr. Treadup says that is no accident.