BY EMILY MIBACH
Daily Post Staff Writer
A candidate for San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer has two IRS liens against his property, according to public records.
David Pollack, a San Carlos resident and substitute teacher who is challenging incumbent Mark Church, was hit with the liens in 2019, according to documents filed in Church’s office.
The liens were for a total $12,965 related to his 2015 and 2017 taxes, according to the lien notice.
Pollack said in an interview that the liens originated during his time as a tech professional, which included being an angel investor. Some of the startups he invested in were not successful.
“I owe some back taxes and I’m paying them off,” Pollack told the Post.
Some of Church’s supporters have also questioned why Pollack tried to defer paying a $10,200 candidate statement fee. The statement appears in the official voter guide.
A substitute teacher
Pollack is currently a substitute teacher for a handful of San Mateo County school districts, and given the salary for that job, he listed himself as indigent and filled out the paperwork to defer the fee.
“Every dollar for (yard) signs the better, and since I was eligible why not apply?” Pollack said. “But perhaps I was naive in giving all of that information.”
Pollack also pointed out that it’s easy for his opponent to throw stones, as Church, a retired attorney, is able to fund his own campaign.
His last campaign finance form from April shows he has loaned his campaign $30,000.
“He’s self-funded and lives in Hillsborough. I’m a renter in San Carlos trying to make ends meet,” Pollack said.
Transparency, accountability
Pollack said he’s running to make sure the office is transparent, accountable and professional. The job pays $236,000 a year.
The biggest issue facing the Assessor Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections office is professional management, Pollack said. He said he’s heard complaints from employees about the management style under Church.
Pollack also wants to make it easier for candidates to run, commenting that there hasn’t been a one-stop shop online for candidates to go and download the paperwork.
Pollack was in favor of Prop. 15, which would have created a “split roll” system for property taxes, increasing taxes on commercial properties while keeping residential properties under the same Prop. 13 system.
Church opposed Prop. 15, saying the change would be a “heavy lift” for his office.
Whoever gets over 50% in the election next week wins.