Politics & Government
Voters to Decide if Assessor Is Elected or Appointed
The current assessor is on an indefinite leave of absence due to allegations that his office lowered property taxes in Beverly Hills and elsewhere in exchange for campaign contributions.
The voted 3-2 on Tuesday to have its lawyers prepare a referendum for November's ballot, asking voters if the county assessor should be elected or appointed to office.
Supervisor Michael Antonovich (R-5th District) recommended the ballot question to be decided by Los Angeles County voters.
Making the job an appointed post would require an amendment to the state constitution. In a statewide vote in 1986, about 85 percent of voters favored elections.
Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
is on an indefinite leave of absence, as the investigates allegations that his employees worked hand-in-hand with tax agents representing property owners to reduce assessed property values in exchange for campaign contributions.
A —who allegedly dropped property values in Beverly Hills, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades by about $172 million—was arrested in May.
Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
, director of the Department of Beaches and Harbors, is running the assessor's office in Noguez's absence.
Supervisors Gloria Molina (D-1st District) and Zev Yaroslavsky (D-3rd District) were the dissenting votes in Tuesday's decision.
