LAKEPORT, Calif. – The candidates for assessor-recorder appeared last week for their first group forum of the campaign season.

Richard Ford, Sorhna Li Jordan and Logan Weiper answered questions of the community and each other during a nearly hour-and-a-half-long forum, held last Thursday, May 8, at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport.

The three candidates are racing to succeed longtime Assessor-Recorder Doug Wacker, who announced he will retire when his term ends in December.

The primary takes place June 3. In the event that one candidate does not get 50 percent of the vote plus one, a runoff will take place in November between the top two vote getters.

The forum, which can be seen in its entirely above, was cosponsored by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Lake County News, with McKenzie Paine of Velocity Video producing the video.

The candidates answered the following questions.

1. Please explain why you are running for the assessor-recorder’s job and what particular skills and qualifications you have for the position. What do you perceive your role will be as county assessor-recorder? (9:26)

2. What are the critical talents needed by the county tax assessor/recorder? (15:50)

3. Have you worked as a supervisor or manager of employees? If so, how many people did you have reporting directly to you? (20:54)

4. Why is a home assessment usually lower than a home appraisal? What support training would you require to be able to do this job? (24:53)

5. Have you ever been fired or laid off from a job? How long have you been working at your present job and what is your job title and job duties? Where are you presently working? (30:07)

6. Have you ever managed or maintained a budget in excess of $1 million? Are you a financially responsible person? (35:30)

7. What will be your goals as county assessor-recorder? (40:11)

8. How do you plan on addressing the budget issues that our county is experiencing and the direct impact it has in terms of staffing issues, public services and carrying out the function of the assessor-recorder? (45:44)

9. What interface with the Board of Supervisors, if any, is necessary in the position of assessor-recorder? (51:19)

10. In the process of running for this office, have you met with the current assessor-recorder and his staff to understand the office's functions and any concerns or challenges they have? (56:06)

11. So far this evening we've focused mostly on the assessor's functions. Explain your understanding of the recorder's functions. (59:59)

12. Please explain your understanding of Proposition 13 for the following: a) base year value; b) factor base year value; c) Proposition 8 review; d) change in ownership; e) new construction. (1:03:06)

The candidates then had a chance to ask each other questions.

13. Weiper asked: Where will you guys think you'll be in 10 years? (1:08:24)

14. Jordan asked: What do you think is your biggest weakness coming into this position? (1:11:03)

15. Ford asked: What exactly is your accounting experience and please expound. (1:13:38)

In addition to viewing the video above, voters who want to know more about the candidates can visit their Web sites and social media pages, or contact them through the email addresses listed below, with the candidates presented in alphabetical order.

– Richard Ford: http://www.fordforassessor.com/ , https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rich-Ford-for-County-of-Lake-Assessor-Recorder/1415123042072601 ; email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

– Sorhna Li Jordan: http://www.votesorhna.com/ , https://www.facebook.com/votesorhna ; email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

– Logan Weiper: https://www.facebook.com/logan.weiper2014 .

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.