Michael Willhite Officers Voters Refreshing Choice for County Assessor (DAILY BULLETIN May 21, 2006)

Michael Willhite has been in the Assessor's office for more then 15 years so he knows the innner workings of the Office. He has been an Employee there, but has not been a Politition that has ran for office. Unlike the many others that have ran for the seat. Postmus who is running against him for the same seat, has left his other Elected San Bernardino Board of Supervisor's Seat to run for Assessor against Millhite, and Millhite's old boss Williamson. Williamson originally wasn't going to run for Re-election, however when Bill Postmus put his name into the hat, then Williamson changed his mind. Behind a good and loyal friend Willhite basically quite campaigning because his mentor and friend has put his name back into the run, However. Looking over the names that are there Willhite deserves to have the fair shake and a second look for the Seat, he would be exillant. Besides the person that usually makes the best candidate is the one that doesn't really want the job. Willhite his the person for San Bernardino County Assessor!!! Don't Forget to get out and VOTE!!!....MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

BSRancher...

Michael Willhite offers voters refreshing choice

The office of San Bernardino County assessor demands a professional appraiser, not a professional politician. And so, we find ourselves endorsing not the three-term incumbent, nor his chief opponent, the county’s head supervisor. Instead, we look to a man who has served in the Assessor’s Office more than 15 years and who offers the consummate package of intelligence, professionalism and dedication to the job at hand. Michael Willhite, 49, is the best candidate for the job. But since his boss, Assessor Don Williamson, belatedly entered the race, Willhite is no longer actively campaigning. And that’s a shame for the county’s taxpayers. We urge Willhite to rethink his strategy and press on. Willhite truly represents the best choice for San Bernardino County voters. Willhite, who currently works as a commercial-property appraiser in the Assessor’s Office, comes across as an earnest, hardworking and apolitical employee who not only is an asset to the Assessor’s Office but also is fully capable of managing it in a leadership position. As such, Willhite stands in stark contrast to his challengers. Williamson, who, as always, has let his ego get the better of him in his campaign for re-election, seems to be eternally mired in one brouhaha after another, which can only detract from the assessor’s service to taxpayers. Williamson has spent the last couple of weeks publicly tussling with Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus in an ill-conceived campaign stunt that is giving the assessor a black eye. Picturing himself a crusader for property owners, Williamson has busied himself trying to push through a tax break only he thinks is viable. In the process, he has gone on the attack against Postmus. But, as we’ve pointed out before, Postmus is no angel either. Nor does the chairman of the board offer a credible reason for abandoning his post to run for what should be, and remain, a low-profile office. Postmus told The Sun of San Bernardino’s editorial board last week he felt it more important to work as an advocate for county residents in the Assessor’s Office than to serve in Sacramento with the Republicans out of power. But we’re not buying it, especially when it comes from the chairman of the county Republican Central Committee. The county’s property owners deserve an elected assessor who is committed to making the office run better, not someone who is waiting around to run for higher office. Here again, Willhite fits the bill. He strikes us as competent, upstanding and thoroughly committed to making the Office of Assessor run smoother, and better. The fourth candidate, Alfred Palazzo, is knowledgeable and experienced enough, having served 33 years in the office. But he lacks the polish of Willhite, and is decidedly rougher around the edges. Though Willhite doesn’t have the name recognition of either Williamson or Postmus, that is a strong point in a race where this has been far too much politicizing. And he definitely has the knowledge and experience needed in a job that demands technical expertise. In all good conscience, we cannot recommend either of the two biggest names in this race. We trust Willhite to do the job of assessor properly and well. Vote for Michael Willhite for assessor.