Candidate for
Assessor; County of Los Angeles

I was born in Central Zimbabwe with no electricity or running water. Nights were dark but often lit by a full moon and shining stars. During the night of my birth, there was a full moon and the stars were shining. My mother was excited, telling nurses and our relatives that she had received a brilliant star. My grandmother, who spoke limited English, was also happy and kept repeating brilliant star. Today, I am not a brilliant star but a man who does not give up. Failure happens but it is not in my DNA. I am determined to make the Assessor's Department a transparent organization with fair assessments on all properties in LA County.

Education

BS Business Administration in 1984 Biola University

MA Business Education 1991, California State University

MBA Finance Option 2008, California State University, Dominguez Hills

MS Advanced Management 2014, Peter Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University

I took the initiative to attend the MA Business Education Graduate Program at the California State University, LA. The high standards of the program helped me develop and improve communication skills. I enrolled in an MBA finance program to broaden my perspective and enhance acquired skills. I needed to familiarize myself with recent issues and trends in business. I mastered management skills at a high level, to increase the magnitude of my prospects.

The MS program at Peter Drucker School of Management made me aware that today's knowledge worker seeks satisfaction from employment, beyond salaries and other financial benefits. The worker accepts responsibilities and prefers to contribute. The worker wants to be accountable to the department, as an important part towards achieving the County's mission. He or she wants to gain status from the profession. I will strive to align an individual's goals with that of the County. I will set objectives that are attainable for the skill level of the worker and evaluate employees' accomplishments. I manage others and myself as I allocate resources. To manage myself successfully, I should be disciplined. Discipline should be accompanied with knowledge to maintain a sense of direction for the department. Other resources can be changed to gain anticipated results; however, human resources are not easily predictable. Human beings have emotions and different attitudes resulting in personal values. I worked very hard at Drucker. It was worthwhile, when you consider the knowledge I gained, as well as earning a distinction in academics and becoming a lifetime member of the Beta Gamma Sigma

Experience

I have twenty-eight years of experience working in the Assessor's Office in various appraisal projects. I know the property tax rules enforced by the State Board of Equalization. I am familiar with Proposition 13 and when the Supreme Court upheld it. I have studied the split roll and I know how it can be severe to reduce revenues when property values are declining. From my experience appraising legal entity held properties, I find them assessed at near market value due to changes in corporate control or consummate or assign a long-term lease and new construction.

I am familiar with the Assessor's workflow from recorded property transfers, permits from building and safety agencies, leases between private parties and governmental agencies, changes in corporate control, and other discoveries. I am proficient in the appraisal process and processing of appraisals into assessment. I am familiar with the taxpayer bill of rights and the appeals process. In fact I will hire a tax payer advocate to assist and let property owners their rights