ASSESSOR: Vote for Allyson Knapp

I endorse Allyson Knapp, for Kootenai County Assessor, in the May 19 primary election. Allyson is a qualified appraiser, who understands how to treat and manage a staff of 70-plus professionals. She is the only qualified candidate for the position.

Mr. Kovaks has done nothing but tear down the Assessor’s office since he was appointed. He can’t seem to understand that he is responsible for all the functions of the Assessor, including all real property appraisal, mapping, vehicle licensing, and customer service.

He never takes responsibility for any of the many costly mistakes he has made, including hiring an outside firm to complete his commercial appraisals and improper removal of homeowner’s exemptions. Kovaks didn’t pay for any of his mistakes. We the taxpayers of Kootenai County have been left to foot the bill.

He’s very good a deflecting his short comings. He sued Spokane County prior to the last election so that they couldn’t disclose why he was let go from his position there. Lately he’s been blaming me for his shortcomings.

I served the people of Kootenai County for 42 years, as Mapping Manager, Chief Deputy Assessor, and 16 years as your elected Kootenai County Assessor. I was elected president of the Idaho Assessors’ Association. It breaks my heart to see what has become of the service-oriented office our team worked so hard to build over four decades.

Kovaks doesn’t know how to communicate with his staff. That’s not how to manage over 70 people.

I encourage everyone to get out and vote in the upcoming primary on May 19th. Let’s stop the gross mismanagement of the Assessor’s Office once and for all. Kovaks is costing us all.

MIKE McDOWELL, Retired Kootenai County Assessor
Coeur d’Alene