Advertisement

Pasco property appraiser, Ted J. Schrader v. Gary Joiner

 
BRENDAN FITTERER  |  Times  (07/11/2012 Port Richey) Ted Schrader for Pasco County Commission BRENDAN FITTERER  |  Times
BRENDAN FITTERER | Times (07/11/2012 Port Richey) Ted Schrader for Pasco County Commission BRENDAN FITTERER | Times
Published Aug. 18, 2016

Pasco property appraiser | Republicans

Pasco voters will be selecting just the third property appraiser in the past 48 years. Property Appraiser Mike Wells Sr. is retiring after 20 years in office and his predecessor, Ted Williams, was first elected in 1968. The winner of the Republican primary between longtime Pasco tax collector employee Gary Joiner and Commissioner Ted Schrader faces Democrat Jon Sidney Larkin in November.

About the job: The property appraiser is responsible for determining the value of property in the county and six cities for taxing purposes and processing and reviewing applications for exemptions. Funding for the Property Appraiser's Office is based on a formula of ad valorem property taxes assessed by the county and other taxing agencies. The budget for the Property Appraiser's Office is approved by the Florida Department of Revenue. The property appraiser serves a four-year term. The annual salary is $147,009.

Gary Joiner

Profession:

Operations director for Pasco tax collector

Operations director for Pasco tax collector

About the candidate:

Joiner, 52, has spent 33 years at the Pasco Tax Collector's Office, where he is director of operations, essentially the No. 3 person in the 196-employee agency. He applied to be tax collector in 2013 but was passed over by Gov. Rick Scott. He notes that the Tax Collector's Office handles nearly 50,000 customer transactions monthly and touts his customer service and problem-solving skills.

Joiner, 52, has spent 33 years at the Pasco Tax Collector's Office, where he is director of operations, essentially the No. 3 person in the 196-employee agency. He applied to be tax collector in 2013 but was passed over by Gov. Rick Scott. He notes that the Tax Collector's Office handles nearly 50,000 customer transactions monthly and touts his customer service and problem-solving skills.

Education:

Gulf High School graduate, attended Pasco-Hernando State College

Gulf High School graduate, attended Pasco-Hernando State College

Why should voters elect you?

"I've done everything from starting on the front line to managing almost 200 people to building brand new offices to instituting new policies, new software, new equipment. I've done it all. I've seen what works and what doesn't work, and I want to take some of those same philosophies and take them across the hall to the Property Appraiser's Office.''

"I've done everything from starting on the front line to managing almost 200 people to building brand new offices to instituting new policies, new software, new equipment. I've done it all. I've seen what works and what doesn't work, and I want to take some of those same philosophies and take them across the hall to the Property Appraiser's Office.''

What changes will you make at the Property Appraiser's Office?

"First thing is probably technology. Get off the county's mainframe and get on the Web. It's faster, quicker. You can do more with it. It's more reliable.''

"First thing is probably technology. Get off the county's mainframe and get on the Web. It's faster, quicker. You can do more with it. It's more reliable.''

How will you handle greenbelt exemptions?

"Greenbelt is no different than a homestead exemption. If the law says you're required to have certain things and certain documents, then that's what we're going to have to do. The law is the law. I'm not going to change the law. I don't make the law. So, we're going to follow the law.''

"Greenbelt is no different than a homestead exemption. If the law says you're required to have certain things and certain documents, then that's what we're going to have to do. The law is the law. I'm not going to change the law. I don't make the law. So, we're going to follow the law.''

Assets/liabilities/ income:

Assets: Home, timeshare, savings, vehicles, boats, ATV Liabilities: Home mortgage, car loans, timeshare loan Income: $99,600 from Pasco Tax Collector's Office salary

Assets: Home, timeshare, savings, vehicles, boats, ATV Liabilities: Home mortgage, car loans, timeshare loan Income: $99,600 from Pasco Tax Collector's Office salary

Campaign fundraising, through 8/5:

Contributions: $43,725, including $14,138 from himself Expenditures: $39,167

Contributions: $43,725, including $14,138 from himself Expenditures: $39,167

Personal:

Married, two children

Married, two children

On the web:

gjoiner99@gmail.com @GaryJoiner99 facebook/garyjoinerforpropertyappraiser

gjoiner99@gmail.com @GaryJoiner99 facebook/garyjoinerforpropertyappraiser

Ted J. Schrader

Profession:

Commissioner, citrus grower

Commissioner, citrus grower

About the candidate:

Schrader, 60, has spent 31 years in public service, the last 16 as the District 1 county commissioner based in east Pasco. A citrus grower and Realtor, he has kept his real estate license inactive since joining the commission in 2000. Schrader said he is proud of his commission work to secure funding for infrastructure, especially for state roads; the land planning in east Pasco that produced the Villages of Pasadena Hills district covering 22,000 acres, and job-creation incentives that helped lure Raymond James Financial to seek property in Wesley Chapel for expansion.

Schrader, 60, has spent 31 years in public service, the last 16 as the District 1 county commissioner based in east Pasco. A citrus grower and Realtor, he has kept his real estate license inactive since joining the commission in 2000. Schrader said he is proud of his commission work to secure funding for infrastructure, especially for state roads; the land planning in east Pasco that produced the Villages of Pasadena Hills district covering 22,000 acres, and job-creation incentives that helped lure Raymond James Financial to seek property in Wesley Chapel for expansion.

Education:

Graduate of Pasco-Hernando State College and University of Florida

Graduate of Pasco-Hernando State College and University of Florida

Why should voters elect you?

"I think I've brought a tremendous amount of integrity, leadership and honesty to the Pasco County Commission. I've worked diligently to try to improve the infrastructure throughout Pasco County. At the same time as being a conservative, fiscal steward of public funds, I've tried to provide necessary revenue for particular projects. I think it is just a natural ascension to move into a position where you're setting values – where you need someone you can trust, someone who has the integrity and ability to establish clear, fair market values for property throughout Pasco County.''

"I think I've brought a tremendous amount of integrity, leadership and honesty to the Pasco County Commission. I've worked diligently to try to improve the infrastructure throughout Pasco County. At the same time as being a conservative, fiscal steward of public funds, I've tried to provide necessary revenue for particular projects. I think it is just a natural ascension to move into a position where you're setting values – where you need someone you can trust, someone who has the integrity and ability to establish clear, fair market values for property throughout Pasco County.''

What changes will you make at the Property Appraiser's Office?

"Clearly, I think we need to make the best and effective use of technology. We can use technology to consolidate and to provide services to constituents and taxpayers who need to visit the website.'' Schrader said he also is considering restoring printed plat books to be distributed in partnership with chambers of commerce and Realtors associations.

"Clearly, I think we need to make the best and effective use of technology. We can use technology to consolidate and to provide services to constituents and taxpayers who need to visit the website.'' Schrader said he also is considering restoring printed plat books to be distributed in partnership with chambers of commerce and Realtors associations.

How will you handle greenbelt exemptions?

"Having served for 15 years on Value Adjustment Board and chairman for seven years, I have had the opportunity to see not just the greenbelt exemption questioned or challenged, but even the homestead exemption. Sometimes the Value Adjustment Board has to make some very difficult decisions. ... Basically, (it) is following the law, and the law is relatively clear when it comes to ag exemptions. It has to be bona fide agricultural use. I would just continue to follow the Florida statute and that interpretation. ... You follow the statue and you follow the law.''

"Having served for 15 years on Value Adjustment Board and chairman for seven years, I have had the opportunity to see not just the greenbelt exemption questioned or challenged, but even the homestead exemption. Sometimes the Value Adjustment Board has to make some very difficult decisions. ... Basically, (it) is following the law, and the law is relatively clear when it comes to ag exemptions. It has to be bona fide agricultural use. I would just continue to follow the Florida statute and that interpretation. ... You follow the statue and you follow the law.''

Assets/liabilities/ income:

Assets: Home, real estate, stocks, savings, businesses, truck and boat Liabilities: Bank loan Income: $172,804

Assets: Home, real estate, stocks, savings, businesses, truck and boat Liabilities: Bank loan Income: $172,804

Campaign fundraising, through 8/5:

Contributions: $140,201 Expenditures: $102,483

Contributions: $140,201 Expenditures: $102,483

Personal:

Divorced, three sons

Divorced, three sons

On the web:

ttschrader2@embarqmail.com facebook.com/people/Ted-Schrader

ttschrader2@embarqmail.com facebook.com/people/Ted-Schrader