Few people would imagine that a forum featuring candidates for Fayette County Tax Commissioner would be the most lively of four others held Sept. 29 at the Fayetteville Library. Yet that was the case as Republican candidate Kristie King and Democratic candidate Rasheed Dawodu squared-off for the brief forum appearance.
Tax Commissioner candidates on the November ballot include Republican Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner Kristie King and Democrat management consultant Rasheed “B.J.” Dawodu.
King has served in the Fayette County Tax Commissioner’s office for 15 years, having held multiple positions within the office.
A question pertaining to the role of the tax commissioner in the timing of the completion of the annual tax digest led to the the most interesting exchange of the forum.
King responded first, noting the work between the tax commissioner’s office and the tax assessor’s office and the timelines and deadlines involved.
Dawodu followed, saying that the position of tax commissioner is an executive position, noting that King became Fayette County Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner only last year.
“Compare my experience,” Dawodu said, asking the audience to compare his volume of experience with that of King.
Those comments led into each candidate’s closing statements.
Up first, King said she is well-qualified for the position, adding that she wanted to present some facts.
“My opponent wants to implement flex-payments. He wants to allow $100 payments on your tax bills. If you have children and grandchildren in our school system, you really need to be concerned about that. Allowing somebody to pay $100 at a time, the interest and penalties alone on that delinquent bill will just increase month after month,” said King.
King in another comment said Dawodu claims to have worked in the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s office. King held up a letter from that office and written by an employee in the office since 1987 saying that Dawodu had never worked there.
King ended by saying that tax collections in Fayette County are at 99 percent.
Dawodu in response said he did not know what King was referencing, insisting that he did have prior work experience in the DeKalb office and maintaining that he has a letter to that effect. Dawodu also said King does not understand a flex-pay system, adding that some other counties utilize that method.
Noting that he had been asked why he is running for office in a predominantly Republican county, Dawodu said the position should be non-partisan.
King in her opening remarks noted the wealth of experience she has gained during those years.
“I’ve become friends with the community,” said King. “They come to me when they need help. I’m not going to sit around and wait to do what I need to do to help somebody out.”
Dawodu in his opening remarks explained the importance of the collection of tax revenue to the community.
“The person in that position (of tax commissioner) needs to be a very competent person,” Dawodu said, saying that he has more education, the most training and more varied experience totaling 26 years.
The candidates were asked about the major tax collection challenges and what experience they have to best qualify them for the office.
Dawodu responded saying he has a master’s degree in management and a law degree. Dawodu said he has also worked in varied positions, including with the state treasury department and as an auditor.
“Those experiences are what I bring to the county,” he said, adding that he worked with the DeKalb County tag office, a part of the tax commissioner’s office.
King in her comments said her years in the office come with far-reaching experience.
“I think 15 years in the office says a lot,” said King. “I started off at the bottom. I have been in every position in that office and I know what it takes to run the office. I don’t have a degree, but I’ve worked under an incredible man (referencing incumbent George Wingo, who did not seek re-election).”
The forum was sponsored by the Fayette County Democratic and Republican parties, the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, the Fayette NAACP and the Fayette County Issues Tea Party.
