SANTA FE COUNTY ASSESSOR
Four-year term. The County Assessor is responsible for the tax related valuation of all county property, with certain exceptions, and prepares a periodic property tax schedule. Minimum qualifications: at least 18 years of age and a legal elector and resident of New Mexico.
1. Describe the qualifications and pertinent experience that have prepared you to be the County Assessor.
Through my 21 years in the Santa Fe County Assessor’s Office, I have worked my way from a Field Auditor to Appraiser, and now the Chief Commercial Appraiser. I have built my knowledge in appraisal, my understanding of leadership and ability to navigate through difficult situations. I am a New Mexico Certified Appraiser and have managed some of the most difficult evaluation accounts within the office. I have attended many courses in appraisal and training in leadership within government. I count myself blessed to have experienced and learned from the three previous assessors who have accomplished and achieved an office of excellence. As a coach, Maradomo, and leader in my church, I have learned more of what people value in Santa Fe County.
2. What is the biggest challenge to the County Assessor’s office and how would you address it?
I believe the biggest challenge is the shortage of staff and the retirement of some of the key members within the office. The office has experienced much success and we are now met with the obstacle of training new staff to carry on the work that has been accomplished by those ready to retire. To address the issue, I hope to cross-train current staff and help make the Assessor’s Office an attractive place to work. Technology has also been a useful tool for our office and has helped us achieve the goals we have accomplished. Many technological possibilities may also help us solve this issue and help us continue as an office of excellence.
3. How do you plan to maintain fairness and transparency in property valuation?
The Assessor’s Office values property in the masses utilizing homogeneous neighborhoods within a mass appraisal system. As the Assessor, a goal of the office will be to continue to seek data and train our appraisers to ensure taxpayers’ values are fair and equitable. Our office will also continue to offer as much data as possible online and accessible in various forms of communication to ensure all demographics are reached. I believe this is another avenue where technological advancements will help us to excel in these areas.
4. What primary methods would you use to value new construction?
As an Appraiser, the value you achieve is only as good as the information you have in hand. In appraisal, there are generally three methods to value real estate, the Sales Comparison Approach, the Income Approach, and the Cost Approach. Depending on the type of property, your data may be limited to place weight equally on each of these methods. As an Appraiser, I would choose the method that has the best data to defend the value when appraising in mass.