In an effort to help you make informed decisions during the General Election, ABC Action News has reached out to dozens of candidates running for office. The following statements have been submitted to ABC Action News by the candidate. Every candidate was given the same set of questions. These are their responses in his/her own words.
Name: Trevor Mallory
Party: Democratic
Office: Pinellas County Property Appraiser
Experience:
Property, Renovation and Maintenance Manager of 104 properties 20015- Present, Current Board Member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Affordable Housing Policy Group and the Affordable Housing Lot Distribution Committee. Current Board Member at Neighborhood Home Solutions.
Why should voters vote for you?
I have professional experience in developing and managing affordable housing, my public policy work and encouraging access to high quality housing, and a deep commitment to equity and fairness in the appraisal and taxation process makes me a great choice for Pinellas County Property Appraiser. My integrity, public service and smart economic sense assure that I will keep my promise and act in the best interest of all Pinellas County residents.
If elected, what are your top priorities?
Protect our seniors – seniors are starting to lose their properties at an alarming rate do to tax sales throughout Pinellas. This is a major issue because it affects the ability to create generational wealth and it’s pushing out the hard working people that have loved and lived in our county for decades.
Making sure all business owner are treated fairly in the upcoming tax roll assessments due to the lost in revenue earnings caused by the effect of COVID-19.
Partnering with PTECH to create Educational Programs for the communities on subsidies that are available for them to use that could potentially save them money. There are far too many residences throughout Pinellas County that DO NOT understand the duties or the process of the Property Appraisers Office. I will make sure we are proactive, open, and transparent to Pinellas County property owners so they understand how my office considers, interprets, and applies the state’s valuation factors.
What are three key messages of your campaign?
EQUITY in Assessments
EDUCATION on programs to help save Pinellas residents money
ACCESS to my office with open lines of communication, county to community
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
The Property Appraiser has the legal responsibility to discover the market value set by activity in the real estate marketplace and appraise property accordingly. Many communities previously created through Redlining’s now illegal practices still suffer lower appraised values than their counterparts, I am passionate about closing the racial homeownership gap and increasing prosperity to those low-income communities previously robbed of wealth for generations under redlining’s legal discriminatory policies that should not be affecting these communities.
As it relates to the role you are seeking, how has that governmental body handled the Covid-19 pandemic? What would you do differently/the same in handling both the public health risk and the economic recovery?
Because Florida law requires property valuations as of January 1st each year, we will not know how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected residential and commercial properties until January 1, 2021. I will carefully review all data points and seek help from the legislation to protect these properties' equity.
In the role you are seeking, what will you do to address issues of racism and inequality?
Nationally, research done on 118 million properties and various studies show African Americans pay 13-15% more in property taxes than any other race. This is a significant inequity when it comes to racism and fair assessments. I plan to put together highly experienced and qualified appraisers and personnel and review Pinellas County’s data to identify those communities hit hardest. Once identified, my office will begin undoing any unfair assessments across the board that adheres to the Fair Housing Laws.
What motivates you to run for public office?
After witnessing the inequities in assessment values throughout low income communities in Pinellas County, I believe it is my civic duty to advocate for change.
