10/24/2014
Thank you to everyone who came to the forum last night. I thought the event was fair and informative for the folks in attendance. I was surprised to read the article describing the event in today’s paper and would like to respond to several aspects of it:
I am generally disappointed in Mr. Clarks reporting style. I have had several lengthy conversations with him regarding the issues of the assessor’s race in great technical detail. I am sure he has had similar issues based conversations with Linda Phillips, Jeff Cook, etc. He has ignored the issues completely in his writing and has focused on presenting the race as a pi***ng contest, completely misrepresenting the basis of my campaign.
The article heading says “rivals in hotly contested assessor’s race use time to snipe at each other.” I did not feel like I was sniped at or did any sniping. I feel like I stuck to the questions that were asked without being negative about the current administration. There is a difference between sniping and explaining what policies and procedures need to be changed. Linda did not mention anything negative about me, but she was very critical of her predecessor Samantha Steele. I worked for both the Steele and Phillips administration. Both administrations had strengths and weakness but I am my own candidate with my own vision.
In the third paragraph he states that the assessor races features, “attack ads airing against republican incumbent Linda Phillips by her Democratic opponent Eric Grossman.” This is false and misleading reporting. There are TV ads that were produced, paid for and aired by RAP (responsible assessing practices) PAC. This PAC was founded by local property owners who were united by unfair and vindictive treatment in the appeals process. I feel like a public servant at odds with such a large portion of her constituency is telling about the attitude and socialization of the office. The article in the J&C incorrectly states that these ads are coming from me – they are not! I am running on my ability and merit – Mrs. Phillips costly and avoidable squabbles with the tax base do not define my campaign! After speaking with the reporter today, he said that he would publish a correction tomorrow.
In the next paragraph, he states, “mudslinging and attack ads are part of the rules of engagement. “ I disagree completely. The ads that he is referring to have a stack of substantiating documentation that supports every claim made. I always thought that an attack ad is a personal attack. The ads produced by RAP PAC state facts about the administration that are substantiated by assessor budgetary information, staffing records and court documents. They are not attack ads and I did not engage in them.
The ads claim that friends, family and political affiliates comprise the assessor’s office. The article claims that I believe the office has “bred nepotism.” I think this was deduced from the RAP PAC commercial and not from our discussions. This is not a matter of opinion or belief. The current & past employee roster of the assessor’s office is public information. I feel like the reporter should have reviewed that document instead of reporting my assumed opinion.
The ads mention utilizing Indianapolis attorney’s to litigate appeals. The budgets show the substantial costs of employing NEXUS group, an Indianapolis firm. The appeal process should be a truth seeking venture to establish the most accurate value given the available data. The assessor’s job is not to worry about taxes, it is to derive the most accurate value. When out-of-county attorneys are injected into the appeal process – everyone loses. Regardless of the determination of value, the tax dollars associated with the appeal end up in Indianapolis with Nexus group instead of with Tippecanoe County Government or with local tax payers. We have the ability to handle appeals in-house w/o expensive attorneys.
If a reporter is going to call something an attack ad, there should be an obligation to explain what about the attack is personal, incorrect or does not pertain to the office.
http://www.jconline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/10/22/candidates-use-forum-state-views/17754515/
Democracy was in full force Wednesday night as more than four dozen people gathered at the Home Economics building on the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds to hear from 10 candidates vying for five contested races.
