Los Altos City Councilwoman Neysa Fligor leads in the race to be the next Santa Clara County Assessor, but looks poised for a runoff with former Saratoga Councilman Rishi Kumar, after the county released initial vote counts in yesterday’s special election.
Fligor received 40% of the 278,425 votes counted as of 8 p.m., followed by Kumar at 24%. Saratoga Councilwoman Yan Zhao was just behind Kumar at just under 20.8%, followed by Brian Do, a San Jose school board president, at 15.2%.
If no candidate receives 50% of the vote, the race will go to a Dec. 30 runoff between the two with the most votes.
Whoever wins the runoff would replace longtime assessor Larry Stone, who served in the office for 30 years before retiring in July.
Fligor’s campaign centered on her credentials in the office. A lawyer by trade, Fligor worked as legal council to the assessor in the mid-2000s, and rejoined the office as a special assistant last year. After Stone’s retirement, she assumed the title of assistant assessor. Stone has endorsed her to be his replacement.
Kumar ran on an outsider platform, promising to cut the department’s budget and bring property tax reforms.
The things that Kumar says he would do as assessor, the office of the assessor has no authority to change.
[Terms of Use Violation. One person posing as two people is prohibited. No sock puppets, please.]
Yes, but they can advocate for change.
Why is Kumar runs for almost every office and loses? Is he unemployed or something and needs a steady paycheck?
Why is Rishi Kumar now running for County Assessor, when in 2020 he was vying for Anna Eshoo’s Congressional seat? He seems to be rather opportunistic. He may also still be selling real estate. This may be a conflict of interest for someone who is elected County Assessor. In 1986, my husband was selling his home in New Almaden and we were looking for a property in Los Altos. Rishi Kumar took us out to see a few houses and we were a bit taken back when he offered us weed in his car. We did not pursue any further real estate searches from him.
Property tax reform would be wonderful. Especially for us seniors who will be hit hard by Prop 19 when we inherit our family home. How can seniors live on a fixed income and expect to pay up to $18K annually in property tax? Some say sell and move. Easier said than done.
Seniors have more wealth than the younger generations and how can Gen Z even begin to afford a house anytime soon in the Bay Area, let alone Palo Alto.
I hate targeted anything. Cut taxes across the board for everyone. Stop picking winners and losers and dividing people based on class, age, race, sex, etc. Abolishing property taxes completely would be ideal but I know that’s not going to happen anytime soon.
[Terms of Use Violation. One person posing as two people is prohibited. No sock puppets, please.]
I attended Public Forum held by Cupertino about a month ago. I provided both candidates my written complaint against the county’s current dirty scheme. They get around Proposition 13 so the County can overcharge homeowners with much high taxes. Also, the Appraisal Department dealt homeowners with bad faith. They not only withhold information, but also harassing homeowners who challenged their property taxes. I have all the facts support my claims. I will be happy to provide the proof to the media.
Kumar is such an obvious liar and totally unqualified. He was the worst candidate by a long shot. Embarrassing that he finished even second