Nitz named to assessor spot

By Larry Hurrle
Argus Observer
Friday, September 25, 2009 10:28 AM PDT

Payette — Patti Nitz has been selected as the new Payette County Assessor. Nitz was chosen among four candidates for the position by the Payette County Commissioners Friday, filling the vacancy left by the death of Robert MacKenzie, Aug. 26.

Nitz is no stranger to Payette County. She has been employed by Payette County for 131⁄2 years, starting in the clerk’s office and eventually becoming the assistant of then-county clerk Laura Stigile. After a failed attempt to gain the county clerk’s seat, Nitz moved to a slot at the Payette County Landfill, where she has been the supervisor of the office, scale house, handled customer accounts and overseen financial operations of the landfill. She said her decision to apply for the county assessor’s position was not a spur-of-the moment decision.

“I had been thinking about running for the office when (MacKenzie’s) term was up,” she said. “His unfortunate passing just moved that ahead a little.”

Nitz will serve the remainder of MacKenzie’s term, which would have ended in January 2011. That means Nitz will face primary elections in May 2010, and possibly November 2010.

“There were three other candidates interested in this appointment,” Nitz said about her position. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see some opposition (in next year’s election).”

ADVERTISEMENT

As assessor, Nitz will oversee property valuation in Payette County, along with handling Board of Equalization hearings, State Board of Taxation hearings, the Payette County Motor Vehicles department and will deal with other county elected officials to make decisions on how the county government should operate.

Nitz stepped into her new role Monday and said she was trying to orient herself with her new surroundings.

“I’m trying to get up to speed on the assessor’s job in general,” she said.

 “I am really looking forward to learning all about the process. We have a great staff at the assessor’s office here in this office and in the motor vehicle office.”

Nitz said she is not sure what will happen with her former position at the landfill, but she said she and Clay Peak Landfill Supervisor Alan Scarbrough will meet to discuss different ideas which will be presented to county commissioners next week.

As for being appointed as the new assessor, Nitz said she was somewhat surprised.

“I don’t totally count on anything,” she said. “There were some very good candidates.”

Nitz said she is looking forward to the challenge of taking over for a long-time assessor.

“He (MacKenzie) was a phenomenal person and an outstanding assessor,” Nitz said. “He’s really missed at the county and personally, it’s going to be very difficult to walk in his footsteps. He was very knowledgeable in his role. It’s going to be a challenge and I’m looking forward to it.”