Listen now:
Ernest Dronenburg interview: http://kiwi6.com/file/pru583v53x
Susan Guinn interview:http://kiwi6.com/file/b0ugg55jps
By Miriam Raftery
May 22, 2014 (San Diego)—San Diego County’s Assessor/Recorder/Clerk is responsible for deciding whether or not you can reassess your property to lower your taxes. The job also includes marrying couples and providing public records such as marriage, birth and death certificates. This week, East County Magazine interviewed incumbent Ernest Dronenburg and challenger Susan Guinn , a consumer advocate/attorney, during our show on KNSJ.
Dronenberg, former Chairman of the state Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board, defends his record and says his office has high customer satisfaction ratings.
Guinn contends San Diego County has among the worst rates in the state for unresolved property tax assessment appeals. She also faults Dronenburg for filing a challenge seeking to avoid conducting gay marriages after Prop 8 was ruled unconstitutional.
He says his Prop 8 challenge was based merely on procedural questions, though a “Dump Dronenburg” site was launched by advocates of same-sex marriages at the time. He later launched a “walk-in Wednesdays” program to expedite marriages for both gay and straight couples.
Guinn says she wants to start public outreach events to bring information out to communities.
Dronenburg touts his department waiving fees for wildfire survivors, with support from Supervisors, as an example of his efforts to help the public.
The incumbent says fee hikes were needed to cover rising costs, since some fees hadn’t been raised in years. Guinn contends that fees were raised far more than needed to cover costs, leaving the public footing higher bills without improvements in service.
Guinn, who previously led efforts to win a $3.3 billion settlement from big tobacco companies for the county, says she will be a watchdog for consumers if elected.
To learn more about the candidates, visit their websites: