The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

To The Eagle:

It has recently come to my attention that I have made an error in believing that I had received the endorsement of the Democratic Party in Wahkiakum County. For this misunderstanding I feel I owe an apology to the citizens of Wahkiakum County and the Democratic party, it was never my intention to mislead anyone and I can assure you that it was not intentional. I strive to “Lead by Example” and believe that when a person makes an error they should own up to it and do everything they can to correct it.

In response to a few of the questions I have fielded while campaigning, I would like to explain that having a Real Estate License does not in any way certify someone to appraise property in the role of County Assessor. The proper way to become certified is by passing the exam mandated by the State of Washington. I will be starting the State required course of instruction in late August and will have both the knowledge and State certification by late September. That being said, I am looking forward to attending some real estate seminars as well as working with our local real estate agents whose knowledge will be invaluable in ensuring that the appraisals in this county are “Fair Market Value.” I believe that “fair market value” is the price at which the property, in its present condition, would sell for within 90 days of being listed.

Being accessible and approachable to the public is of utmost importance to me and should be a requirement in any job which interfaces with the citizens of this county. I intend to address any concerns brought into the Assessor’s office with professionalism, if it concerned a citizen enough to visit my office then it concerns me enough to listen to what they have to say. If the assessor’s office is in error we will fix it, if the assessor’s office is correct then a clear, concise answer will be afforded the citizen so that all parties understand the situation.

I want to sincerely thank all of the people who voted for me in the primary election and assure anyone who has doubts that I know I have the customer service skills, attention to detail, and the dedication to excel in the job of County Assessor.

Brian McClain

Skamokawa