One County Assessor candidate will advance out of Primary

    Two Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination next month for Chase County Assessor.
    Whoever gets the most votes May 10—Sid Bartels or Tori Otzel—will mean a new County Assessor in the office in January. Incumbent County Assessor Dotty Bartels is not seeking re-election.
    There are no Democratic Party candidates.
    County officials are partisan positions, meaning candidates must register with a specific political party. Parties can advance just one candidate to the General Election in November.
    Questions posed by the news department were given to each candidate.

    1) What will guide you as you determine property values in Chase County, especially in Ag ground?
Bartels: I will use three years of factual and qualified sales information on agricultural and commercial properties and two years of factual and qualified sales information on all residential Properties throughout Chase County as per state statute, to determine a value that is fair and equitable to all property owners in Chase County.
Otzel: I will utilize all resources available to me set forth by state statutes and guidelines, including the experienced staff at the state and local levels. With a new perspective and fresh look at the current properties, I will confirm that the values are accurate and identify any possible skewed valuations. I will stay in compliance with the statutory regulations for all agricultural valuations based on the assessment ratios set by state statutes and/or sales across the state, and will be calculated based on those Nebraska Standards.
2) As a County Assessor, do you believe it is better to be loved or feared and why?
Otzel: I certainly wouldn’t want to be feared, I would rather be respected. I believe fear is a terrible motivator. People are feared because they are irrational, acting for personal gains and unpredictable. The County Assessor is someone who should be trusted to value your property honestly, thoroughly and fairly across the board.
Bartels: Neither. Being loved or feared should not be a factor in any decisions made by the Assessor. This is a public servant position that should be transparent and without bias or being affected by what people think of you.
    3) Why do you want to leave or add to your current job to be County Assessor and how would you make it a smooth transition?
Bartels: I would not be leaving any position to accept the role of Assessor. I am a business owner proudly serving Chase County with excellent staff capable of taking charge of day-to-day operations. A smooth transition will be achieved by working closely with the current deputy Assessor and  clerk to assure a seamless transition.
Otzel: As a County Assessor, I can serve my community much like I was able to do while in the Navy. This is a career I can dedicate all of my time to with great pride. A smooth transition is greatly dependent on the adequate patience required for the basics to be brought back into the office and strip down the unnecessary clutter that has gathered for the past couple decades.
    4) Explain how you would deal with push back from a property owner regarding an assessment?
Otzel: Customer service is highly regarded in my prospective. There will always be challenges when it comes to assessments resulting in taxation. Any property owner that has questions or concerns about their property assessment will be more than welcomed and encouraged to come speak with me as I plan to have an open-door policy in the office if elected. I will always keep the office up-to-date with current policies and procedures to ensure transparency with the community.
Bartels: I would present the owner with the information and facts that the assessment was based on, while also providing education and instructions on how to move forward with their complaint. I want the public to be informed on how assessments are made, and what options are available to them.