Four Candidates Compete for Santa Clara County Assessor Position
Santa Clara County is preparing for its first open race for the assessor’s position in over three decades, with four candidates vying for the role in the special election scheduled for November 4, 2024. Longtime assessor Larry Stone, who first took office in 1994, announced his decision to step down earlier this year, prompting the county to hold a special election to fill the vacancy.
The special election is a result of the county’s charter, which mandates that no appointment can be made to fill the assessor’s role. In the interim, Greg Monteverde, the former assistant assessor, is overseeing the office’s operations. Voters will also face another significant decision on the same ballot regarding Measure A, which proposes a five-eighths-of-a-cent sales tax increase aimed at mitigating the effects of federal budget cuts on the county.
The candidates for the assessor position are Bryan Do, a trustee for the East Side Union High School District; Neysa Fligor, the current vice mayor of Los Altos; Rishi Kumar, a former Saratoga councilmember; and Yan Zhao, a current Saratoga councilmember. Each candidate brings a unique background and vision for the office, which oversees an $8 billion enterprise responsible for assessing the value of over 500,000 properties in the county.
Candidates’ Profiles and Campaigns
Yan Zhao leads the fundraising efforts among the candidates, having raised $607,310 as of September 20, 2024. Her campaign emphasizes modernizing the office’s technological infrastructure. Zhao, who was elected to the Saratoga City Council in 2018, aims to enhance community engagement and ensure residents are knowledgeable about property tax laws and available exemptions. “I feel like there is more that we can do to make this office work for the people,” Zhao stated, highlighting her goal to increase transparency and accessibility.
Following her is Neysa Fligor, who has raised $259,286, including a personal loan of $97,000. Fligor currently serves as the assistant assessor and has a deep understanding of the office’s operations. She intends to prioritize closing the assessment roll by the mandated June 30 deadline and completing the modernization of the office’s technology. “With more efficient processes, we’ll definitely be able to save money and engage more with the community,” Fligor remarked.
Rishi Kumar, who has garnered $17,361 in contributions, emphasizes property tax reform, particularly for seniors. Though the assessor does not have the authority to grant exemptions, Kumar expresses a commitment to advocating for such changes at the state level. “Seniors have done their part,” he asserted, underscoring his dedication to supporting residents facing financial pressures due to rising property taxes.
Finally, Bryan Do, who has self-funded his campaign with a loan of $22,989, focuses on utilizing technology to improve the office’s services. A project manager by profession, Do aims to implement 24/7 customer service through conversational AI and to publish a public dashboard tracking the office’s performance. “I think I can do a better job,” he commented on the current integration of the new assessment system.
Impact of the Election
The outcome of this election will significantly impact the operations of the assessor’s office, which plays a crucial role in property valuation and taxation in Santa Clara County. With annual assessments totaling billions of dollars, the selected candidate will influence how properties are valued and how efficiently the office operates.
Voters will not only make a decision about their next assessor but also weigh in on Measure A, which could further shape the county’s financial landscape. As the election date approaches, candidates are ramping up their outreach efforts, engaging with the community to discuss their visions and priorities for the future of the assessor’s office. The combination of these two critical decisions could redefine fiscal policy in Santa Clara County for years to come.
