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The race for Citrus County property appraiser features two well-known candidates, each of whom has spent nearly two decades in careers that involve setting the value of property in Citrus County. The major difference is the way each has approached this task.
Democrat John Barnes has been a Realtor in the county for 18 years, a career that has given him extensive experience in determining just what price a piece of property and the structures on it will fetch, the so-called market value. Barnes has the intrinsic knowledge of the various communities, developments and natural features of Citrus County one gets after many years of personal and professional involvement in a growing community.
Republican Melanie Hensley has spent the past 18 years steadily advancing through the ranks of the Citrus County Property Appraiser's Office. Starting as a secretary in 1986, Hensley has held a number of key positions and now is the top nonelected official, chief deputy property appraiser. In that job, Hensley has been largely responsible for the day-to-day operations of the office.
Her many years of training have included earning a host of appraiser certifications and affiliations with numerous professional associations, which have helped her stay current with the changes in her field.
Both candidates have deep roots in Citrus County, and each can point to many years of additional public and community service.
Hensley, 49, spent eight years with the Tax Collector's Office before joining the property appraiser's staff in 1986. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Inverness, the United Way board of directors, Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters International and several other groups.
Barnes, 63, was a Citrus County commissioner from 1982-86 and has served on the Mosquito Control Board and as the county's parks and recreation director. He is a member of numerous community groups, including the Realtors Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the American Cancer Society, the Citrus County Fair Board and the Homosassa Lions Club.
Barnes says that under current Property Appraiser Ron Schultz, who is retiring, the office has been involved in too many lawsuits, such as legal fights with Florida Power Corp. (now Progress Energy), Time Warner (now Bright House Networks), and the developers of Sugarmill Woods over the values of their respective properties. Barnes says he would work toward better relations with these and other businesses so that questions could be resolved before they wind up in court.
Hensley, who has been involved in these disputes as chief deputy, says Barnes' portrayal of the office as overly litigious is without merit. She points out that the system for challenging property valuations means that lawsuits can be filed by either side as an appeal of a tax bill or as a way to get necessary information from a business or resident. Hensley also notes that the county has more than 155,000 parcels and that the Property Appraiser's Office has been involved in only a handful of lawsuits.
Barnes also says the office could do a better job of sharing data with other agencies and criticizes the department for lagging behind on creating a Geographic Information System, a countywide computerized mapping and information collection system.
Hensley praises the cooperation among the various agencies and notes that the GIS is becoming more functional as other county departments get on board. She points out that the system has been used to determine the amount of damage Citrus has received from recent floods and storms.
Hensley says that, if elected, she will build on the solid record of the office but will be more active than Schultz has been in educating the public about the office's services by speaking to civic clubs, homeowners associations and business group meetings.
Noting the disparity between her professional training and education and that of Barnes, Hensley points out that Barnes would need at least two years to earn the certifications that she already possesses in order to run the office effectively. "How would he know if his subordinates are doing a good job?" she asks. "Does he want to be a property appraiser or an administrator?"
Hensley's stronger professional credentials, plus her lengthy experience in the daily operation of the office, make her the better choice for voters. The Times recommends voters choose Melanie Hensley as Citrus County's next property appraiser.