Democratic caucus ends with Spearman picked as assessor
The Lake County Assessor’s office will welcome its first black woman in the top spot in January.
LaTonya Spearman, who currently holds the chief deputy assessor’s position, was elected handily over challengers Jesus “Jes” Ortiz and Marty Wachel in a Lake County Democratic caucus on Saturday that brought out 268 precinct committee members — or slightly more than half — of the county’s total. Spearman won with 179 votes, while Wachel and Ortiz received 76 votes and 11 votes, respectively.
With a level 3 assessor certification — the highest possible in the profession — and 13 years in the assessor’s office under four different administrators, Spearman, who called herself a “political novice,” told the group that while they should elect who they feel could do the job, she believed that she was “most knowledgeable” and has the most experience.
“I would love the opportunity to take the office to the next level,” Spearman said to wild applause from her supporters.
Ortiz said he respects Wachel’s and Spearman’s qualifications but cautioned that no one was talking about the issues the office will be dealing with in the coming years. In a memo he passed out prior to the vote, Ortiz talked about the Location Cost Multiplier, which is a factor in calculating what people pay or property tax and was last addressed in 1973, when the county was in better economic shape.
“In our case, it represents millions in current, restricted Lake County general funds … that could be appropriated toward county-wide service,” Ortiz wrote. “I submit that that is significant leverage.”
Wachel, a “lifelong Democrat,” said he’s served in various assessing capacities over his 30-year career and holds a level 2 asessment certification.
Lake County Democratic Chairman Jim Wieser commended the voters for their turnout Saturday and praised the accomplishments the party’s achieved over the last two years, particularly in getting younger Democrats like Chris Chyung and Lisa Beck elected to the statehouse.
“In Crown Point, for the first time in its history, we have a Democratic majority on the City Council as well as a Democratic majority in Lowell,” Wieser said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the PostTribune.