This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 13, 2011 - L.K. "Chip" Wood, head of L.K. Wood Realtors, says he "hit the ground running'' early this morning to launch his bid to win election April 5 as St. Louis County's first elected assessor.
Wood, 56, narrowly edged out former St. Louis County Executive Gene McNary in a close vote Wednesday night by members of the county's Republican Central Committee. Sources say the vote was 23-21 in favor of Wood.
Wood praised McNary, saying that during Wednesday night's presentations, "It was really an honor to stand on the stage next to him."
Wood said his campaign will promote his 38 years in the real estate business. "I'm not new to real estate. This is what I've done for 38 years,'' he said.
Wood said that real estate offices around the county are familiar with the ongoing controversy over the county's property reassessment. Real estate agents can count on calls annually from homeowners who have gotten their real estate tax bills and are shocked by the county's estimated value of their home, he said.
"I feel like there's got to be a better way," said Wood. He added that he will promise property owners "a fair shake, that they will be treated like a human being."
Because of the economic downturn nationally, Wood said that real estate locally generally has dropped to 2004 values.
Wood graduated from Chaminade high school in 1976 and attended one year of college at Loyola University in New Orleans before returning to St. Louis and joining the family business. He and his wife, Martha, reside in south St. Louis County and have six children, two of whom also work for the family firm.
Wood already has attracted a lot of Republican support. His consultants include former St. Louis County Councilman John Campisi.
If elected, said Wood, "I will try to supply the same standards'' that his firm has used for its 61 years in operation.
County Democrats already are attacking Wood's real estate background, by alleging in a statement that he "stands to gain personally from the position" if elected assessor.
Tonight, county Democratic leaders will meet to choose their nominee for the post.
The Democrats competing for the post include state Rep. Jake Zimmerman of Olivette and Leslie Broadnax, a lawyer from Bellefontaine Neighbors who chairs St. Louis County's Board of Equalization.
County and state voters decided last year to change the assessor from an appointed post to an elected one. The victor on April 5 will hold the post until the end of 2014. Candidates for the assessor spot in 2014 will file and compete for the job in the usual manner. This year's nominees are chosen by party leaders.
Both major parties see the post as a political plum.
Here's the Beacon's original story on the GOP selection, posted Wednesday night:
Former St. Louis County Executive Gene McNary lost another close contest Wednesday night, when members of the county Republican Central Committee narrowly chose real estate executive L.K. "Chip" Wood as their nominee for county assessor.
Sources say that Wood edged out McNary by two votes, 23-21, in the balloting, held in Clayton.
Wood now will compete in the April 5 election against an as-yet-unselected Democrat, who is to be chosen by that party's county leaders Thursday night.
Wood, 56, of south St. Louis County, heads his family's real estate firm. He has cited his expertise in appraising property.
McNary, 75, has cited his experience in county goverment. McNary is the county's longest-serving executive, from 1975-1989. He lost bids for governor and the U.S. Senate in the 1980s, and lost his quest for the U.S. House in 2000 by 56 votes to fellow Republican Todd Akin in that year's packed GOP primary.
The Democrats competing for the post include state Rep. Jake Zimmerman of Olivette and Leslie Broadnax, a lawyer from Bellefontaine Neighbors who chairs St. Louis County's Board of Equalization.
County and state voters decided last year to change the assessor from an appointed post to an elected one. The victor on April 5 will hold the post until the end of 2014. Candidates for the assessor spot in 2014 will file and compete for the job in the usual manner. This year's nominees are chosen by party leaders.
Both major parties see the post as a political plum.
