Ferguson calls for committee to review potential appointees for King County Assessor

June 17, 2009

Summary

Story

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Bob Ferguson today introduced legislation establishing a process for appointing a County Assessor until a new Assessor is elected.

“The County Assessor position is an important one, touching the lives of King County residents in a direct way,” said Ferguson. “We must we have a fair and transparent process to appoint a qualified individual to serve in this position until a new assessor is elected in November.”

On May 20, King County Assessor Scott Noble pled guilty to vehicular assault and will be forced to resign his position when sentenced, which is scheduled for June 19. Deputy Assessor Rich Medved will serve as interim Assessor until an Assessor is appointed. The appointee will serve until a successor to serve the remainder of Noble’s term is selected in the November general election.

Ferguson’s proposal would call for applications for the position from qualified candidates. Those interested would have until Monday, July 6 to submit a resume, references, statement of interest, and answers to five questions pertaining to the position. A five-member panel, which will include representatives from the Council and County Executive, would then review the applications received by the Council.

The panel would meet on an expedited schedule to review the qualifications of eligible candidates. Under the proposal, the committee’s evaluation would include the following criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership skills;

• Appropriate education, training, and experience;

• Demonstrated proficiency in problem solving, interpreting statutory and regulatory requirements, conducting good public relations, and maintaining effective group and interpersonal relationships;

• Demonstrated ability to respond to public concerns about the policies and practices of the county department of assessments;

• A commitment to maintaining the functions and structure of the county department of assessments without disruption during the election of a new county assessor; and

• A commitment to the immediate business of the county department of assessments that would make it unlikely that the appointee would run for any elective office while serving as appointed acting assessor.

By Friday, July 10, the Committee would recommend 2 to 5 names to forward to the King County Council. Ferguson, chair of the Council’s Committee of the Whole, said he will hold a special meeting of the committee on Monday, July 13, at 9:00 a.m. to interview candidates, with a final appointment potentially made by the County Council at its afternoon meeting.



Resignation letter of Scott Noble