The campaign for Salt Lake County Assessor, one of the sleepiest elected offices in Salt Lake County (if not the whole state), is getting dirty.
In the race between the old and the young, surrogates of Kevin Jacobs’ have accused Jake Parkinson, also a candidate for Salt Lake County Assessor, of making sexist and degrading comments about women at campaign events.
In a post on Facebook, former Salt Lake County Republican Chair and current Salt Lake County Chief Deputy Recorder Julie Dole claims that Parkinson has been “telling people that his first order of business would be to fire the attractive women in the office” and that he “has insulted women delegates who refuse to support him by calling them names like “old” and “fat”.”
It’s a new low, even for Salt Lake County.
In a post on Facebook, Julie Dole accused Jake Parkinson, a candidate for Salt Lake County Assessor, of making sexist remarks. The post was later removed.
“Obviously complete rubbish,” said Parkinson about the accusations, arguing that Dole was spending her time on the County dime promoting Jacobs and making calls to discourage delegates from voting for Parkinson.
Becca Olea Adams, Administrative Assistant and campaign manager for Kevin Jacobs, reposted Dole’s post.
Both Dole and Adams removed the posts when questioned about the source of the accusations.
[UPDATE] Dole has said that she did not remove the post, but that it was blocked by Facebook after Parkinson complained. For more, see Dole’s response in the comments below.
It’s a strange turn of events in a race for a job that is about one step up from dog catcher in most voters minds (not that it isn’t important…but let’s be honest: who has a clue about how the assessor values your home or why it seems to bear no relationship to the value you paid for it or the real estate agent says he can get for it?).
On one hand is Kevin Jacobs, who was appointed Chief Deputy to then Salt Lake County Assessor Lee Gardner in 2011, and then was selected in 2013 to finish Gardner’s term when he retired early. Jacobs often argues his superior experience managing a large staff and budget qualifies him for the job. Jacobs’ events seem stocked with employees of the Assessor’s office, and when I stopped to pick up a flier found myself surrounded by a smiling administrative assistant and deputy.
In the other corner is Jake Parkison, a much younger guy with experience working in the Tooele County Assessor’s office. He ran to replace Lee Gardner in 2013, as well, but was passed over for Jacobs by the Salt Lake County Republican Central Committee. He comes to the race with promises of making assessments more fair, more transparent, and faster, including technological innovations and updating the office.
Why the dirt in a race for an office few people understand? Could it be the risk to job security?
According to the Utah’s Right website, the Salt Lake County Assessor carries a salary and compensation of $164,405, which is more than $10,000 more than even Governor Gary Herbert pulls in. It’s a great job, with great benefits, and a relatively low political profile. Lee Gardner held the job with little opposition for eighteen years, and it could be reasonably assumed that who ever wins the office in November will hold it for just as long.
About Daniel Burton
RSS - Posts
Those that know me know that I would not make a post of this sort, without verifying the sources. I have talked to some of the people that Jake made these comments to and carefully vetted them. Jake knows this is not “rubbish”. This was evident when I confronted Jake at a meeting last night (Tuesday evening).
I am definitely not Kevin’s surrogate, I am a precinct elected county delegate who has been attending as many meet and greets as possible and have been diligent in doing my homework. I actually began doing my research on Assessor candidates in early 2013 when Jake and his campaign contacted me as the Party Chair, requesting my assistance in forcing then SLCo Assessor Lee Gardner to step down long before he was ready to resign.
I did not remove my Facebook post, the Parkinson Campaign reported it to Facebook and had it removed, causing me to be banned from doing anything on Facebook for 12 hours.
In any case, I would not have known that the post was down or been able to respond until after work hours, as I am not on Facebook during work hours, with the exception of sometimes during my lunch.
I find it interesting that Jake would try to deflect this by saying I am making calls to delegates while I am at work. Jake confronted my boss with these unfounded accusations, but when asked to provide proof and names of delegates and times I called and/or posted, he simply walked away. Making unfounded accusations, appears to be the method Jake uses to deflect unfavorable spotlights from himself.
Daniel, I am disappointed that you would put this bias and malicious post out without fully vetting the comments.
Julie,
Thanks for weighing in. I’ll be glad to revise my post here to reflect that you did not remove your allegations.
As for what part of the above post is biased or incorrect, please feel free to let me know. However, the facts seem to be all here: you accused Parkinson of some fairly damaging things that are unsubstantiated by anyone but you, refuse to substantiate them, and are, apparently, now doubling down. Seems like a brilliant move.
I can’t speak to Jake Parkinson’s actions regarding your post; while he and I are friends, I am not affiliated with his campaign, nor have I endorsed it. However, I can’t blame him if he did report the comments to Facebook. I think anyone in his position would do the same.
I have attended 3 events from Jake. He has organized several of the events that county delegates have put forth. I have heard NO sexist remarks or anything like it.
I respect Julie but see no evidence of her claims.
Dave Willis
former precinct chair and current county delegate
What needs to be said here is that Parkinson has obviously accused Julie Dole of something, if nothing else as having spent time on Facebook while on the county’s dime. Why assume he has never made other derogatory comments in the past?
Laura, I think that’s hardly obvious. On the contrary, I think it’s more than questionable that a high level supporter would drag out these accusations in a vacuum of such a history. Having looked at the complaints that Julie is referring to, it’s more than clear that these accusations appear more political than substantial in nature and have, at least in my mind, been a blow to Julie Dole’s credibility.
Having known Jake through being a neighbor and working together in the community for three years, I find these accusations to be ridiculous. If you know his wife you would find it even more absurd. I admired Jake precisely because he holds values opposite of those suggested by Ms. Dole. Clearly they are meant as a distraction in a race where the incumbent has nothing substantive to offer in the way of improvements of an outdated and poorly run branch of our local government. I hope Jake will have the opportunity to streamline, update, and make fair an office that affects us all where it’s felt the most, our pocketbooks.
Got my ballot in the mail today..but I have to say, I will not ever take for granted any public office again..so this gets my scrutiny..
Does changes and improvements in the office mean higher budget? We are paying enough in property taxes..people are struggling..
I can’t see why innovations would increase cost. On the contrary, they should only be introduced if they A) lower costs and B) cut appeals time. Given that my neighbor has had her appeal in process for months and was finally given an appeals date eight months away, I think there is more than a little room for improvement.
Just to clear one misperception you appear to have Daniel, appeals are handled by the Auditor’s Office and the County Council, not the Assessor (in ANY county). It would be a conflict of interest to have the Assessor involved in any appeal. Any changes to the appeals process must be brought forth and approved by the county council and the auditor.
Thanks for writing this. Google led me here when I was researching the candidates. I didn’t know anything about either of them, but I kind of have a policy of voting for the guy who doesn’t feel the need to attack the character of the other (or have others attack on his behalf).
Tax collector makes more money than the GOVERNOR! What is up with that picture? If Herbert only makes $154,000, he is donating half his time. That’s rediculous. Raise the Governor’s salary. I’m sure the tax man can find it in the budget.
Dan,
Do either of them have professional experience or credentials in property evaluation or real estate in general? I am not impressed with people who run for these relatively specialized positions with no real experience in the area. (Sheriff without law enforcement background or Auditor with no accounting background.) It is as though they just want public office prestige, power, and income – in any office they can get elected.
Jake does. He has been Toole’s assessor for 10 years. Kevin Jacobs only got his assesors license last year so he could run for this position. Go to Jake’s web site and read about him for yourself.
Daniel Burton contacted me personally to respond to Lee’s question. Apparently when I private messaged Daniel, he didn’t like my answer and Adrianne shared some grossly inaccurate information.
Let me now say publicly, Kevin Jacobs has worked in a management position in the SLCo Assessor’s office for 25 years, including Chief Deputy Assessor and Assessor. In addition, Kevin is a CPA, a licensed appraiser and holds Ad Valorem designation with the State Tax Commission. Both Kevin and Jake are members of the IAAO. However, Kevin has been recognized and received awards from the IAAO and State Tax Commission for his service to tax payers.
Adrianne alleges that Jake is the current assessor for Tooele County and has been for the past 10 years. Not so! Wendy Shubert is the Tooele County Assessor. A fact that can be easily verified by going to the Tooele County Assessor Website (http://www.co.tooele.ut.us/assessor.htm). Jake is merely one of the two staff appraisers for Tooele County and has only held this position for two years. Please do not confuse an appraiser with an assessor. Assessor’s hire appraisers. Assessors are responsible for the management of the office and the budget. Jake has never been an assessor nor has he even served as chief deputy assessor or been responsible for or managed the budget in Tooele or any other county.
In fact, in reviewing the HR requirements for a mid-management position in the SLCo Assessor’s office, Jake with his current qualifications, would not meet the minimum requirements for any middle management position in the SLCo Assessor’s Office, let alone be considered for the executive team. (Middle Management requires 12 years of related education and experience.)
Check out Kevin’s experience on his website http://www.kevin4assessor.com.
But what about the question about Jacobs getting his license last year for the first time? Is that accurate?
Becca Adams and Julie Dole can suck a prickly catus!!! they are just attacking jake because they can’t compete on there own merits! Get a life….outside of Utah, you are seriously embarrassing us.
not nice man
Why is the Assessor post even a political race. My feelings are these post should be appointed and it should be based on your knowledge of accounting. I was a little disturbed by the salary, after all “appointed” jobs in the county make a lot lot less money. mmmmmm can you say political climbing?