We need to be smart about voting.

Let’s use the tax assessor’s race as an example. Shawn Jenkins says he is going to vote for Doug Tanner because he thinks Tanner is the best choice, for a “change.”

Many people would agree for “change,” because they are not happy with their taxes. However, if you want a change in your tax rate, you need to find better candidates for county supervisor, mayor and aldermen, and the school board, since those offices are directly responsible for the millage rates for taxes.

The assessor’s office does not set the rate, but uses a predetermined mathematical formula to align property values with the millage rate to obtain the tax value you pay. The assessor also uses a process to appraise a property value based on property size and other set criteria of which the assessor and some deputy assessors have to be trained.

Tanner does not have any assessor training. Tanner is not the “best choice.” That would also eliminate Mike Caruthers, due to no assessor training. That leaves Ben Luckett and Angela Brown. Both are deputy tax assessors, so which one is the better choice? Luckett has the highest certification offered for the tax assessor office and has spent 15 years in the field actually doing the assessing. Brown has experience entering Luckett’s data in the computer (not appraising) and has only one assessor certification.

I believe Ben Luckett is the only candidate that can assure a smooth transition in the tax assessor’s office and this would be a great advantage to the citizens of Vicksburg and Warren County.

Imagine how screwed up your taxes would be if there was an untrained, uncertified individual elected to that office.

Paul Naya

Vicksburg