The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-09-03

my record Of seven and ons-half
years as county assessor. ~ svi-
denee OF my willingness and ability
to serve the public. and a. . meas
ure as TO my fitness for the office
l now seek.
when / became assessor, l had
been a lawyer and member Of the
legislature: my knowledge q law
and the legal procedure in making
laws. proved q ysluahls asset
These qualifications, with the
status I enjoyed as an official of
one Of the states first class coun-
ties. has enabled me 10 exert
degree Of influence nj the state
capital beyond that enjoyed by
most county officials.
Raised Ratio
As result OF this influence
I have been enabled to effectively
project my effort for the public
good beyond the limited legally
prescribed duties of the assessors
office, particularly in the matter
of taxation. Among the bhings
have done TO increase our county
income was the raising Of the
countys ratio more than per
cent (this ratio In the tax COM
missions method for estimating
the efficiency Of county assessing
offiees). This alone has resulted
in a more than 5000 increase
in the annual income of the county
1.-THE automobile excise tax law
and other legislative acts, effected
largely through my efforts. like
wise nets our county al least an
other $50, 900 of annual income
Thus, can confidently claim. thai
in addition TO operating the asses
sor's office TO provide = highel
degree Of service and efficiency
I have brought into the count,
treasury double the cost Of operst
ing the assessors office.
Revision Needed
THE county government ~
whole il In need Of revision. Ou
present system provides for fiv'
county departments. each man
aged by an elective official. unde
bond and oath to honestly AM
efficiently perform certain duties
Over these departments In q super
government of county commission
ers, who supervise road work an
institutions (or what there IL lef
of such duties now that the stat
has extended its activities). The.
also act as a board of budget re
view, through which they may. b.
folly or malice, impair or wreel
any county department. / hav
differed on many occasions wit
our local board. primarily and on
tirely because ! nave felt they hav
neglected 10 know each county Dc
partment. to frequently contact a
county officials. discuss with thsr
such problems and duties ~ ar
imposed on them by law. 10 kno'
what sort OF staff they have. q
should have, and the salary pal
each employe OF the county. .
far as / know. they have nsvs
visited any county office for eve
a brief study Of such office. Ys
they slash preliminary budg'
items without study Of the sctu'
need.
NAV Dust Official
IF elected county commissions
there will be many opportuniu'
10 exert influence over the count
departments 10 see that they Al
properly manned and equipped an
give the service 10 which the tai
payers are entitled. and 10 insi'
that they function properly.
the last analysis. the board
county commissioner may rerno'
a county official VINO fails or n
fuses 10 function
Our country is in a war ms
calls for our unified and utmo'
effort Therefore. II elected count
commissioner. ] viii inzisi ina
every county official eooperA'
fully with the government In n
important task Of winning "