By PAUL BORING

Staff reporter

An extensive career of management and a passion for statistics has prompted Democrat County Assessor candidate Dave Mattens to throw his hat into the ring.

As the only Democrat running for the office, Mattens will go head-to-head in the general election with the Republican winner of the Sept. 19 primary.

Mattens, 56, served 25 years in both the U.S. Navy and as an officer in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Using the GI Bill to its fullest, he received associate’s degrees in arts and science while majoring in biology. He attended Michigan Technological University where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in geological engineering.

The candidate’s love for data will be a perfect fit for the assessor position, he said.

“I really like data. I like the technology aspect of it too,” he said. “My entire career has been scientific in nature and engineering and technology.”

An 18-year resident of Whidbey Island, Mattens said he is very familiar with government and Island County.

“After serving my country for 25 years in the government, I’m thinking to myself, why not take all of this experience and serve the citizens of Island County? I just think it’s natural. I feel very comfortable with that.”

His career and well-rounded experience has prepared him for the office, he added.

“I think that I come with fresh ideas for the assessor’s office,” he said.

One of his fresh ideas is to engage the current staff he would be leading. His career has also taught him that people are a key to success and maximizing their potential ensures that success.

“My goal is not only to manage change in the office, but to manage the transition,” he said. “There’s a big difference between the two. Unless you get acceptance and people get onboard with you with these changes, you really haven’t changed.”

The candidate feels the major problems in assessor’s office are largely management related. He said the department has survived on the mere tenacity of the appraisers. Although he respects the current assessor Tom Baenen, who is completing his third term, Mattens believes a changing of the guard is in order.

“I just think he’s tired. He’s ready to retire,” he said.

Increased communication in the office is imperative, Mattens said, as is the establishment of a strategic plan that deals with short and long-term goals. Staff meetings will also provide vital communication.

Siding with Jones on the technology issue, the candidate believes the computer systems currently used in the assessor’s office is handcuffing staff. The system, originally designed for a dinosaur mainframe, was converted to a Windows operating system in 1987, drastically reducing functionality.

“It’s my belief that the county is throwing away taxpayer money keeping this thing Band-Aided together,” Mattens said. “Change is inevitable. I would to be there to direct change, because I believe I have the technological expertise to direct it most efficiently.”

Quality control and customer service has hurt the office’s reputation, he said.

Mattens said his opponent Jones, an appraiser in the office, has a wealth of experience, as do the rest of the staff.

“I think that Daniel Jones and I could work well together,” he said. “You have so much experience in that office, so why throw it away?”

Island County had a startling number of appeals in 2004 compared to Kitsap County, which has double the population and parcels of land. With a new system, the assessed values by appraisers can be analyzed to determine if the numbers are within a certain margin of error.

Quality control includes public education. The candidate plans to implement educational programs in different locations county-wide to speak with citizens about the appraisal process.

“People need to know how it works,” Mattens said.

Common courtesy and respect in the office is yet another priority for the candidate. He said that when problems arise between incensed property owners and appraisers, he has no qualms about stepping in and intervening.

“I don’t want to hear about people hanging up on citizens,” he said.

Before making the decision to run for the county position, Mattens spoke with Baenen, who reportedly told the candidate he is more than qualified for the job.

“He said he won’t endorse any candidate, but he said, ‘Boy, I’ll support you,’” Mattens said.

Mattens, a family man with a wife and three children, said he is prepared to bring his skills and experience to the table.

“I have no bridges to burn,” he said. “I have no baggage. I really come with fresh ideas, fresh management skills from my career that I think are not being implemented in that office. I think it’s just a wealth of information and experience that I can bring.”

To learn more about the candidate, access Mattens’ Web site at www.DaveMattensCampaign.com.