1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,333
-Hello, my name is Rob
Foxcurran and I'm running

2
00:00:03,333 --> 00:00:04,733
for King County Assessor.

3
00:00:04,733 --> 00:00:05,600
I grew up here.

4
00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:07,366
I graduated from the Seattle
Public Schools before

5
00:00:07,366 --> 00:00:08,700
graduating from the UW.

6
00:00:09,033 --> 00:00:11,466
Today, my wife and I live on
Beacon Hill in Seattle with

7
00:00:11,466 --> 00:00:14,566
our soon-to-be two daughters,
who I'm proud to say are both

8
00:00:14,566 --> 00:00:16,300
sixth-generation Seattleites.

9
00:00:16,300 --> 00:00:17,433
This is home.

10
00:00:17,700 --> 00:00:19,900
Now, whether you rent
or own your home,

11
00:00:19,900 --> 00:00:22,233
costs keep rising, and
property taxes are

12
00:00:22,233 --> 00:00:23,466
a part of that story.

13
00:00:23,466 --> 00:00:25,033
The assessor doesn't
set tax rates,

14
00:00:25,033 --> 00:00:27,733
but they do determine the value
of every property in the county.

15
00:00:28,066 --> 00:00:30,266
Those values shape what you pay.

16
00:00:30,566 --> 00:00:31,933
That's why I'm running.

17
00:00:31,933 --> 00:00:34,333
This is a technical
office that requires real

18
00:00:34,333 --> 00:00:35,633
expertise to run well.

19
00:00:35,633 --> 00:00:37,300
I may not be an
elected politician,

20
00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:40,166
but I am an expert and
proven leader in my field.

21
00:00:40,166 --> 00:00:42,466
I'm the only candidate and
progressive in this race

22
00:00:42,466 --> 00:00:44,766
that has spent over a decade
as a certified general

23
00:00:44,766 --> 00:00:45,933
real estate appraiser.

24
00:00:45,933 --> 00:00:48,733
I currently serve as the City
of Seattle's senior appraiser,

25
00:00:48,733 --> 00:00:51,233
where I'm also a shop
steward with PROTEC17.

26
00:00:51,233 --> 00:00:54,133
For the past three years, I also
served as a hearing examiner

27
00:00:54,133 --> 00:00:56,566
on the King County Board of
Appeals and Equalization.

28
00:00:56,566 --> 00:01:00,000
That's where folks go to appeal
their property's assessed value.

29
00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,600
There, I watched
corporate landowners

30
00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,533
pay teams of consultants to
help slash their tax bills.

31
00:01:04,533 --> 00:01:06,866
I've seen the system from
every seat at the table.

32
00:01:06,866 --> 00:01:09,633
I know where it works, and I
know where it falls short.

33
00:01:09,633 --> 00:01:11,400
King County currently ranks
near the bottom nationally

34
00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,133
in commercial
property tax fairness.

35
00:01:13,133 --> 00:01:14,600
When the wealthiest corporations

36
00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:16,833
don't pay their share, that
burden shifts directly

37
00:01:16,833 --> 00:01:18,266
onto your shoulders.

38
00:01:18,266 --> 00:01:20,866
We need a professional
to balance these scales.

39
00:01:20,866 --> 00:01:23,166
My plan for real affordability
includes three core

40
00:01:23,166 --> 00:01:25,866
shifts. First, we need
modernized payments.

41
00:01:25,866 --> 00:01:27,900
I will fight for monthly
payment options so families can

42
00:01:27,900 --> 00:01:29,466
actually budget.

43
00:01:29,466 --> 00:01:31,033
Second, we need to
expand the county's

44
00:01:31,033 --> 00:01:33,066
efforts in signing seniors,
veterans, and neighbors

45
00:01:33,066 --> 00:01:35,300
with disabilities up for
for the exemption programs

46
00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:37,133
they are already qualified for.

47
00:01:37,133 --> 00:01:40,166
And third, I'm pushing for a
universal homestead exemption.

48
00:01:40,166 --> 00:01:41,100
What does that mean?

49
00:01:41,100 --> 00:01:43,300
It means that a portion of
your primary residence,

50
00:01:43,300 --> 00:01:46,100
your home, is exempt
from property taxes.

51
00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:47,166
Why does that matter?

52
00:01:47,166 --> 00:01:48,800
Because we're in the
middle of a housing crisis

53
00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,633
and an affordability crisis,
and no one should ever be taxed

54
00:01:51,633 --> 00:01:53,366
out of their own neighborhood.

55
00:01:53,366 --> 00:01:55,900
I'm Rob Foxcurran, candidate
for King County Assessor,

56
00:01:55,900 --> 00:01:57,600
and I would be honored
to earn your support

57
00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,133
in our effort to prioritize
people over property.

58
00:02:00,133 --> 00:02:00,433
Thank you.