SANDPOINT — Bonner County Chief Deputy Assessor Corey Gabel has announced his candidacy for Bonner County Assessor.  

Already a staple in the county’s assessor’s office, Gabel said his campaign is centered around continuing to improve the office’s positive environment while advancing public communication and outreach.  

“I’ve always said that in 2026 I was going to run, unless Dennis was still running,” Gabel said. "My main reason for running is because this is a political position, and when someone new normally comes in, things change. They think everything needs improvement. But how I see it, the office is running pretty well. ... We’ve gotten to a point where we’ve made a good environment for our employees, and I think our public outreach is starting to improve.” 

Gabel began his career with Bonner County about eight years ago, first working as a custodian before advancing to chief deputy appraiser, where he currently handles the day-to-day operations of the assessor’s office.  

He said he believes it's vital to remain transparent and maintain a positive relationship with the community, especially around property values. Upon being elected, Gabel said he plans to involve the public as much as possible to help them understand the role of the assessor’s office 

“Public communication is the biggest thing for us to have a great relationship,” Gabel said. “A couple of weeks before the assessments go out, I plan on holding a meeting explaining our process of assessments, explaining the values we’ve come up with, and then educating the people to understand how we got there.” 

Gabel said part of improving public understanding includes cross-training employees so they can answer a wide range of questions from residents. He said better educating staff could help reduce confusion for community members seeking assistance.  

“I’ve heard that it’s sometimes difficult for people to come in, that they don’t get the answers they want, and I’m hoping to change that,” Gabel said.  

Touching on property rights, Gabel said the office will still abide by a no trespassing policy, where officials will send out a letter for inspection and will require an invitation onto the property before inspection.  

Gabel has been a lifetime resident of Bonner County, where he and his wife raised three daughters. That experience, said Gabel, has shaped his commitment to serve Bonner County.  

Gabel’s name will appear on the ballot during the May 19 primary elections. For more information, go online to https://www.corygabel4assessor.com/.