Houser announces candidacy for Kootenai County assessor

Chief Deputy Assessor Rich Houser, a Republican, has announced his candidacy for Kootenai County assessor.

Current Assessor Mike McDowell is retiring at the end of the year.

Houser was sworn in as chief deputy assessor in February 2003 and has served the taxpayers in that role for 15 years.

“My plan is to continue with the same high standards of professional service that we have established in my time here. We are repeatedly thanked by taxpayers for taking the time to listen, answer questions, and address their concerns,” Houser said. “I enjoy serving the public; Mike and I have worked diligently to improve accountability and efficiency while providing great customer service.”

Assessor McDowell has endorsed Houser to succeed him and said, “Rich has served as the chief deputy assessor for 15 years and is the most qualified person in Kootenai County for the job. He will make a great assessor serving all the people of Kootenai County.”

Houser’s responsibilities as chief deputy assessor include the management of the office and 62 employees, setting annual goals and budget, data analysis, which includes setting the assessment level and market adjustments.

“When I started 15 years ago, we were using a state-of-the-art IBM system, soon after taking the position we started identifying the need to upgrade our assessment and tax system. We made the move to a fully integrated system in 2005 with our first assessment roll in the new system in 2006,” Houser said, in his announcement.

Houser has served as part of the county team (assessor, treasurer and clerk).

“We work as a team, cross-training our employees so statutory requirements are always met. Our office will continue to deliver high quality service and be mindful of the fiscal responsibilities to taxpayers,” Houser said.

Houser has been active within the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO), Idaho Association of County Assessors (IACA), and the Idaho Association of Assessing Personnel (IAAP). He has completed over 1,600 hours of continuing education since starting with the county in 1986. For the past 10 years, Houser has been an active member of Thomson Reuters users group, an international group of government agencies using tax and assessment software.

Additionally, Houser serves on several management and oversight committees for the county where he has established professional relationships with the elected officials, chief deputies, department heads and employees.

Other organizations Houser has been active in include:

Boys & Girls Club of Kootenai County, board of directors for the past 10 years; a member of the Post Falls Lions Club; past president and current member of Post Falls Community Volunteers; member of Jobs+ Action Committee (aka Kootenai Perspectives); Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency commissioner; past board member of the Post Falls Church of the Nazarene; and a past board member of the North Idaho Officials Association.

Houser is a 2004 graduate of Leadership Coeur d’Alene, and was a founding member of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce River City Leadership Academy. He was the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year in 2008 and was inducted into the North Idaho Officials Association “Hall of Fame” in 2009 for his 20-plus years of service as a high school wrestling official. Houser is a Republican Precinct Committeeman, Precinct 31.

He has been married for 37 years to his wife, Pam, and has three grown kids, Nellie Armstrong (David), Bethany Atkinson (Christopher) and Andrew Houser (Sara), and four grandkids.