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Show TV. milMUtiWW mmm SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS - WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 1990 Election 6 Chamberlain, Jackson vie for clerk Robinson, Johnson compete for assessor Incumbent county clerkaudi-tor- , Kathy Chamberlain, says she feels she has done a good job of performingthe dual functions of her job during the past eight years, and her experience is invaluable to the county. But her opponent, Scott Jackson, says he feels there is a power problem in the clerks office and it is time for a change. The position is being used as a fourth commissioner, Jackson charges. She is there to assist the commission and the department heads. Chamberlain, who sees one of her important functions as providing commissioners with data and information, said it is espe- The incumbent county assessor, Drew Robinson, says he would like to continue in his job in order to bring unattached ly personal property-princ- ipal boats onto the tax rolls. But, his opponent, Eric Johnson, now an assistant to the Kane County Commissioners, says Robinson is unqualified to be assessor because he is not a certified appraiser and has not been willing to get the education required by the Utah State Tax Commis- cially important that she be Kathy Chamberlain retained now because two new commissioners will take office briefly as an administrative in January. They wont know assistant for the county before the history, past actions, and in- being elected clerk. formation on finances, planning She served a term on the and zoning, and subdivisions, county school board and h as been she said. I have a lot of research involved in the County Republiin my memory, and thats a tre- can Party. She currently is mendous advantage to Kane county vice chairman. She is vice president of the Utah Clerk County. Association and is a Auditors Jackson, 32, city policeman seekslated to become president next for the past three years, is for Chamberlain to unseat year. ing the position which this year had Clerkauditor is two positions, each with a lot of intricacies that a salary of $27,088. dithe take time to learn, Chamberlain Chamberlain, 50 and old says. In most counties, they are vorced mother of a of two separate positions. The is end daughter, nearing the four-year term as laws imposed by the her second 24-ye- ar ever-changi- ng clerkauditor. Bom and raised state legislature change the here, she went away to school, positions even more, she says. lived in Flagstaff for 14 years, The clerk serves as the election Las Vegas for 1 12 years, then official for the county, and court returned 12 years ago. scheduling and calendaring is Chamberlain has a BS degree done in her office. She has two in sociology, psychology, and clerks working for her. Ive had eight years expepolitical science from the University of Utah. She describes rience and Ive done a good job in both positions, she asserts. Both herself as a and has worked as a medical tend to be controversial by their assistant and office worker and nature, she says. I audit the dispatcher for construction other county positions and apcompanies. She returned to this prove every expenditure and area to work for Arizona Refin- make sure its within the budget. ing Company (now Sahuaro The commission sets the budget, Petroleum) as dispatcher and but I present them with a tenplant manager. She worked tative budget. jack-of-all-trad- es Does your home or business have bugs? Let Allen's Kanab Pest Control get rid of them!! GUARANTEED!! ALSO . . . Get your name on the list for fruit and elm tree spraying today!! Call 644-236- 1 dren, with only a son 15-year-o- ld remaining at home. They have 15 grandchildren. Its a job and its enjoyable, and I like working with people, Robinson said of his desire to continue in the assessor post. However, he is critical of the commission for not funding his office well enough to enable him to get the work done. The office has only one other employee, a clerk or deputy assessor. If they would spend the money, theyd get a lot more in sion. In 1970, a law was passed return, he asserts. requiring county assessors be Johnson, 32, grew up in KaScott Jackson qualified by the State Tax Com- nab, then was away for 12 years Chamberlain said she enjoys mission to improve the accuracy in Salt Lake and northern Calinature of her of property assessments fornia before returning in 1988. the job. Theres variety throughout the state of Utah, An appraiser in California, JohnJohnson asserts. Mr. Robinson son returned to be an every day, she says. appraiser has had 20 years to comply with and in raised Las Jackson, Vegas building inspector for Kane law. He is still this illegally His current position as but whose father grew up here, without an County. alsohas a varied job background. functioning assistant to the commissioners certificate. appraisers He has an associate degree from evolved over time. Robinson said he thinks is it Dixie College in St. George, with Johnson has a BS degree in a major in architecture and a too early in the election process political science and economics to get into details and that he is minor in business. sure neither will get 70 percent from the University of Utah and He moved to Kanab from Las of the vote at Fridays conven- a masters degree in land ecoVegas 12 years ago and spent tion, so the race will go to a nomics and finance from Columthe first two years commutin g to runoffbetween him and bia Pacific University. He is a St. George to work for architec- primary Johnson and that is the time to certified appraiser and a certitural firms. He worked for fied real estate appraiser. into these matters. Kaibab Industries for three getRobinson and Johnson are' Johnson and his wife, Lydia, years, and then had a sporting squaring off for the post which have four children, two boys and goods store for three years, behas a salary of $23,812. two girls ranging in age from 6 fore joining the Kanab Police thisyear Robinson, 59, a native of Glen- years to 6 months. Department. He is married and dale, has been a county employee I have lived in Kane County the father of five boys and one for 20 years. He was appointed most of my life, Johnson noted. girl, ranging from 12 years to 6 as county clerk in 1970, was I am well acquainted with the months old. el ected once to that position , was different developments and Jackson has been active in appointed assessor in 1976, and properti es th rough out our area. Republican politics at the county has been elected three times to Johnson said he is concerned and state level and was search the post. He had worked in road about the fairness of property and rescue commander for two construction for the 12 in assessment Kane previous County. In years. He ran for county before he with started the 1989, over 75 percent of the years four years ago county. appeals made by taxpayers beand narrowly lost. Robinson served four years in fore the Board of Equalization Jackson said he is running for the Air Force. He has a certifi- were granted in favor of the clerkauditor for three reasons: cate in bookkeeping and account- property owners, he says. Their its a job he knows he can do and ing from North West State properties had been valued too do well; the power problem he Teachers College in Marysvale, high by the assessor and they perceives in the incumbents Mo., and has taken courses in were expected to pay more than performance; and I would like a surveying engineering in Cedar was fair. The current county asjob in the community so I can City. He served on the town sessor has used little or no scienstay here, be active, and raise board in the early 1 960s. He and tific data upon which to base his his wife, Pauline, have six chil- - assessments. my family. Jackson says he has common T-- V sense, is personable, and understands the importance of working within the budget from his experience of operating a small busin ess in Kanab. I would treat everybody fairly, justly and with harmony, he remarks. I feel there is disharmony between the clerk and the commissioners and department heads. I work well with people. The challenger also said he thinks the clerk should take more of a hands-o- n approach and be more actively involved in the areas the other clerks in the . office are handling instead of i just letting them do the work non-routi- ne off-the-w- all - and overseeing them. Drew Robinson Eric Johnson |
