Gary R. Schmidt
Republican Candidate--Dist.
5—Washoe Co. Commissioner
(home/office) 775-674-2008
Thursday, June 12th, Gary Schmidt,
Republican Candidate for County Commission District 5 (also current member of the Washoe
County Board of Equalization) and Tom Koziol who recently resigned from the Washoe County
Board of Equalization to become a Libertarian candidate for the Office of County Assessor
were in attendance at the Nevada State Supreme Court. The full Court heard oral
arguments on the Incline Village property assessment issue.
The Washoe County Board of Equalization in 2003
prior to either Schmidt's or Koziol's appointment to the BOE, had sided with the
Assessor's Office and found that the Assessor's Office was following the law and the
proper procedures in regards to the Incline Village assessments. But, in 2005 on a motion
made by Schmidt and seconded by Koziol that was carried by a 4 to I vote, the Board of
Equalization determined and found that the Assessor's Office was not following the law or
the proper procedures under essentially the same circumstances.
Gary Schmidt said, "It appeared clear to me
by the questions asked by the justices that they all clearly understood the issues and the
law and I will predict that they will rule similar to the 2004 County Board of
Equalization and find in support of the two District Court Judges and rule in favor the
Incline Village Group, but we will have to wait and see".
Koziol thought that the Justices appeared
critical of both the Assessor's Office and the State Tax Commission. Koziol stated,
"I am running for the Office of County Assessor because I clearly understand the
issues and the problems. I feel they can not be addressed or solved by insiders
within the Assessor's Office such as my two opponents--the Republican Candidate and the
Democratic Candidate. To date, they have also failed to prevent or resolve the great
disputes and controversy."
Gary Schmidt declared his support for Tom Koziol
for the Office of County Assessor and stated, "From my experience working with Tom on
the Board of Equalization, I know that he understands the issues and problems and I have
every confidence that he can clean up the current mess in the Assessor's Office. The other
two candidates from inside the Assessor's Office were and are, unwittingly or not, simply
part of the problem and not the solution!"
The Court Room overflowed into the lobby and
there was an abundance of T.V. and print media present. This is one of the highest profile
civil cases to come before the State Supreme Court in some time. The Court listened
to the oral arguments and took the matter under submission and indicated it would be
between two and six months for them to publish their ruling and order.