Platte County Assessor David Cox chose not to run for re-election, leaving the post open for a heated competition during the Republican primary.
Current District Commissioner Dagmar Wood threw her hat into the ring early on, and has been vocal in her criticism of the assessor. Long-time assessor’s office worker Marcus Farr announced his candidacy not long after.
DAGMAR WOOD
Wood, 57, is from Parkville. In a relationship, she has four adult children. Currently the First District Platte County Commissioner, she holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia and has worked as a commercial realtor and analyst.
“I decided to run because for years I’ve seen property owners’ valuations go through the roof and then be bullied by the assessor’s office if they complained or appealed their valuation increases,” Wood said. “Homeowners and businesses have moved out of Platte County because of this disrespectful treatment. If elected, I will bring a more taxpayer-friendly approach to the assessor’s office.”
Wood says the county needs new leadership in the assessor’s office.
“As an active Republican in Platte County for the past 30 years, I am pro-Second Amendment, pro-life, pro-law enforcement and veterans, pro-border security, support Trump’s pro-America first policies, and voted ‘no’ on all officeholders pay raises,” Wood said. “I’ve served on the Platte County Republican Central Committee and also served as past president of the Platte County Federated Republican Women.”
She feels her experience as a commissioner makes her a good choice for assessor.
“I’ve been honored to serve as your southern Platte County Commissioner and am passionate about helping taxpayers,” Wood said. “I lead the county’s efforts to implement the new senior real property tax freeze credit so that senior citizens would not get taxed out of their homes in their latter years, with applications being available starting Sept. 1 on the county’s website.
She sees property tax stability as a big issue for taxpayers.
“As your Platte County commissioner, I’ve empowered property owners to push back on the assessor’s office and appeal their home’s high valuations to a very taxpayer-friendly Board of Equalization, that we appoint,” she said.
If elected, she said she would change the culture of the assessor’s office.
“The culture of the assessor’s office needs to change from aggression towards taxpayers to being much more taxpayer-friendly, including not trying to tax churches and charities, as the current assessor’s office has attempted to do,” Wood said. “When the Assessor’s Office gave taxpayers one business day to appeal their large valuation increases. I reached out to our legislators and there is now a one month notification law in Missouri. I have continued to advocate to state legislators a need for year-over-year property valuation increase caps in state statute that give much-needed relief to all taxpayers. I look forward to bringing a much more taxpayer-friendly and transparent approach to the assessor’s office.”
MARCUS FARR
Farr, 46, is from Platte City and is married to Angie Farr. They have two teenage children. A graduate of Kansas State University, he is a certified real estate appraiser and works as an appraiser for Platte County.
It’s this experience as an appraiser that Farr says gives him an edge, with extensive knowledge of the local real estate market. He has been an active member of the Platte County community for more than 20 years.
“As your new Platte County Assessor, I will provide the lowest assessments allowable; be in the office full-time, unlike office holders who treat their county position as part-time work with full-time pay; and fully support senior tax relief,” Farr said. “I will lead with integrity and honesty and will ensure that the assessor’s office is professional and respectful of the taxpayers. I will not be constrained by conflicts of interests; valuations will be objective and unbiased.”