Times endorsement backs candidate with valuation and appeals experience
The Seattle Times on July 11 endorsed Rob Foxcurran for King County assessor, saying he is best positioned among three candidates to restore stability and bring a fresh perspective to an office that has seen recent turmoil.
The editorial framed the race as an opportunity for voters to move past the controversy surrounding current Assessor John A. Wilson, who decided not to seek reelection after being charged with stalking a former fiancé; those charges were later dismissed. Chief Deputy Assessor Al Dams, another candidate, was noted for managing the office during Wilson’s legal crisis and was commended for his leadership.
"King County currently ranks near the bottom nationally in commercial property tax fairness, and when the wealthiest corporations aren’t paying their share, that burden shifts directly onto everyone else’s shoulders,"
The Times highlighted Foxcurran’s background as a senior adjuster for the city of Seattle and experience in the private sector. For the past three years he has served on the King County Board of Appeals and Equalization as a hearing examiner, where he adjudicated appeals involving the Department of Assessments’ property valuations.
What the endorsement stresses
- Valuation accuracy: The editorial emphasized Foxcurran’s focus on accurate valuations as central to fairness and equity in taxation.
- Commercial tax fairness: The Times pointed to King County’s low national ranking on commercial property tax fairness and the resulting burden on other taxpayers.
- Experience in appeals: Foxcurran’s recent role hearing appeals was cited as a practical qualification for the assessor’s duties.
Foxcurran has criticized some recent county spending decisions, including the pandemic-era purchase of several hotels to provide temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness. The editorial noted his observation that in some cases the county paid more than 70% above the assessed value for buildings that required significant improvements, using that example to underscore what the endorsement called the importance of accurate valuations.
Local consequences for Seattle and King County residents
The office of the county assessor does not set tax rates, but it determines property values that underpin the tax base. The Times endorsement said Foxcurran would use the platform to advocate for changes in Olympia, including a proposed homestead protection for homeowners’ primary residences similar to policies in other states. The editorial suggested that more accurate valuations could shift who pays what share of property taxes across both commercial and residential owners.
For Seattle homeowners and businesses, the choice of assessor can influence the fairness of commercial assessments and the distribution of tax burden across neighborhoods and property types. Voters will decide whether they prefer a candidate with continuity from inside the assessor’s office or one the Times describes as bringing a fresh approach grounded in valuation practice and appeals work.
| Candidate | Noted experience (per endorsement) |
|---|---|
| Rob Foxcurran | Senior adjuster for City of Seattle; private sector adjuster; hearing examiner on King County Board of Appeals and Equalization |
| Al Dams | Chief Deputy Assessor; managed office during Wilson’s legal crisis |
| John A. Wilson | Incumbent assessor; not seeking reelection after being charged (charges later dismissed) |
The endorsement adds a high-profile local media voice to a contest that also includes union and corporate commercial property owner support for Foxcurran, according to the Times. As the campaign moves forward, Seattle and King County residents should expect debate on valuation practices, transparency and how the assessor’s office addresses appeals tied to both commercial and residential properties.
Voters will weigh those questions in the upcoming election, choosing who will oversee property valuations that help fund local services across Seattle and the broader county.
