This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 14, 2011 - State Rep. Jake Zimmerman, D-Olivette, is now the official Democratic nominee for St. Louis County's first elected assessor.
And while he has no expertise assessing property, Zimmerman says he has a lot of experience "managing bureaucracy'' and fighting for citizens' rights.
As Zimmerman told county Democratic leaders Thursday night, "On my watch (if elected), there will be no 'drive-by assessments.' I will run an office where the taxpayer comes first. "
Zimmerman will compete April 5 against real estate executive L.K. "Chip" Wood, who was chosen Wednesday night by county Republican leaders.
The election is prompted by last year's decision of voters in the county and statewide to make the assessor an elective post, ending decades of it being an appointive position.
Members of the county's Democratic Central Committee voted to select Zimmerman as their nominee after hearing from all three contenders. The others were Leslie Broadnax, an attorney and chairwoman of the St. Louis County Board of Equalization, and David Jefferson, a cab driver who lives in Hazelwood.
All three addressed the committee, and each fielded the same questions -- ranging from their qualifications to queries about what personal failings might be uncovered if Republicans engage in the expected "opposition research."
(Zimmerman quipped in reply to the last question that he tried, and failed, to steal a sign when he was 19.)
The press and the public were allowed to view the presentations, but not the balloting. Although the final vote count was not released, county Democratic Party chairman Matt Robinson said afterwards that "the broad margin that he was chosen by demonstrates the confidence that the committee has in Rep. Zimmerman."
"Jake exudes the strong qualities that we need in a candidate and assessor," Robinson added. "He has experience in the legal and legislative arenas and is fully equipped to handle the complexities of the office that oversees real estate and personal property assessments. Rep. Zimmerman will be a fair and impartial assessor for our county."
County Executive Charlie Dooley, a Democrat, was present during Thursday's selection process, but was circumspect when asked if he will be campaigning for Zimmerman. "Wait and see,'' Dooley said.
Zimmerman, 36, is just beginning his third term in the state House. He's a graduate of Clayton High School and Harvard Law School, and is preparing to get married this summer to Megan Robertson, who worked as a field worker here in 2008 for the campaign of now-President Barack Obama.
.Along with a stint in private practice, Zimmerman worked a couple years in the Missouri attorney general's office (under Jay Nixon), where Zimmerman says he "fought on behalf of people victimized by fraud and illegal business practices." He later served as deputy counsel for then-Gov. Bob Holden.
During his tenure as a legislator, Zimmerman said he opted to temporarily set aside his law practice to be a fulltime officeholder and fully represent his district. "I chose to build a public service career instead of making money,'' he said.
Zimmerman has, however, been successful at raising campaign money. He currently has more than $200,000 in his campaign bank account. He told Democrats Thursday night that field volunteers will be even more important, because April 5 will likely be a low turnout election.
Zimmerman said that a key plank in his campaign will be his call to separate the assessor's staff, especially those who appraise property, from the county's property-tax collection operation and the Board of Equalization, which hears assessment appeals. As it stands, all of the employees now work in the same branch of county government.
As for his GOP opponent, Zimmerman said he "looked forward" to what Wood had to say. Wood already is emphasizing his experience in the real estate field.
Zimmerman hinted at his party's expected line of attack when he observed, "I don't think that coming from the background of a particular interest group is a particularly good thing in this race."
