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District:
COUNTY WIDE ELECTION (CTY)
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Dan Sowell Candidate For:
PROPERTY APPRAISER
(Universal Primary)
Republican
Elected
2323 Mound Ave
Panama City, FL 32405
Phone: 850-832-2823
Fax: 850-785-8367
Email: dsowell@knology.net
http://www.dansowell.com
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MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS |
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DSDE 9 - Appointment of Campaign Treasurer
DSDE 84 - Statement of Candidate
O400 - Candidate Planning Class
O401 - campaign treasurer report policy
O410 - Candidate Petition Certification
O498G - Certificaiton of Candidate Qualification
DSDE24 - Loyalty Oath
Form 6 - Statement of Financial Interests
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Note: The candidate's statement is
supplied by the candidate and is not endorsed by the County Supervisor of
Elections! The statement must advance the candidacy of the candidate and
not attack the opponents or issues in the election.
| Comments : | Ladies and Gentlemen:
My name is Dan Sowell. I am asking you to grant me the privilege of serving you as your next Property Appraiser. I began my career with the property appraiser’s office over 19 years ago, and since that time it has been my desire to serve as your property appraiser.
As a fourth generation Bay Countian, I care deeply about our County, its citizens and its future. I am a member of the First Baptist Church of Panama City. I am a graduate of FSU; I hold the Certified Florida Evaluator designation and a Florida real estate broker’s license. I was the first branch manager of the property appraiser’s Beach branch. I am the past president of UCP of North Florida. I am married to my bride Cheryl; I enjoy boating, watching most sports and playing chess.
My candidacy is a prime example of not knowing where a round of golf will lead; carpet golf that is. You see, in the late summer of 1987, Freddy Campbell, who worked for Harold Bazzel for many years, and his family came to play a round of carpet golf at the old Johnson’s carpet golf, which I had purchased earlier that year. I mentioned to Freddy that I would be closing my golf course for the season soon and I asked if he knew of any job openings. He told me that Richard Davis, the property appraiser at that time, usually hired some part-time help beginning in October.
So I went to see Mr. Davis. Well, he and I hit it off, and Mr. Davis offered me a job. For the next six months I worked on a part-time basis. Upon graduation from Florida State University in August of 1988, Mr. Davis re-hired me, this time on a full-time basis in January of 1989.
And for the past 19 years, it has been my pleasure to report to work in the office of the Bay County Property Appraiser. I began my career in the mapping department helping to create the county base map that is the foundation for our web site. In 2005, I was asked to serve as the first branch manager of our Beach office. Then, in July of 2006, I was promoted to assistant chief deputy. I have learned a great deal in the positions I have held.
From almost day one on the job, it has been my dream to one day have the honor of serving Bay County as its property appraiser. Therefore, I have taken the first step toward making that dream come true by announcing my candidacy for the office of Bay County Property Appraiser.
As a fourth generation Bay Countian, I care deeply about our county, its citizens and its future. My goal is simple; give Bay County the premier property appraiser’s office in Florida; one where fairness is paramount and friendliness abounds.
Many property owners saw a dramatic increase their property’s assessment in recent years as real estate prices soared, and as a result of a property tax system in dire need of an overhaul. For over two years now, I have been a strong advocate of property tax reform, and will continue to be. I will keep property assessments as low as possible; and while Amendment One was a good start, as your property appraiser, I will be a strong advocate for additional property tax reform and relief that brings predictability to our property tax system.
The desire for property tax relief and a reduction in spending is shared by most in our local governments; as demonstrated by the actions of some local taxing authorities. I look forward to working with our local governments and legislative delegation in bringing more significant, lasting tax relief. We must ensure that any effort to revise Florida’s property tax system eliminates any shift in the payment of property taxes from one classification of properties to another.
Locals seeking additional income from rentals or folks simply wanting to invest in Bay County should have the opportunity to do so without fear of exorbitant spikes in property values and taxes.
I will continue efforts to ensure compliance of those property owners receiving property tax exemptions and land classification designations.
I will keep the pressure on those who would attempt to benefit from unwarranted exemptions by enhancing our homestead fraud efforts.
Because a well-educated and well-trained staff is essential to having the best property appraiser’s office possible, I will continue the efforts our office has undertaken to expand the educational opportunities of our staff.
I will work with our legislative delegation to have the definition of “totally and permanently disabled” changed, as it is currently defined in the statute governing the qualification for the total and permanent property tax exemption.
Also, the amount of the non-total and permanent property tax exemption needs increasing from $500 to $5000. A $500 exemption grants less than $10 in property tax relief in some taxing authorities.
Presently, one must be legally blind or use a wheelchair for mobility to qualify for the total and permanent exemption. This just isn’t right. On a number of occasions, I have had property owners walk in my office that were in worse shape than many who use a wheelchair. They had COPD or severe heart problems that rendered them totally and permanently disabled, despite the fact they could still walk.
I will also ask local taxing authorities to follow the lead of other counties by granting a one year deferment on the payment of property taxes by those sons and daughters of Bay County serving in a combat theater.
Two of the most popular and beneficial features of our office have been our web site and the creation of our branch offices. The enhancement of these features will be a priority of mine. For example, my plans are to take our web site "live"; providing real time tax roll data.
I will keep our main office open until 6:00 the final week of homestead and I will send two staff members to Mexico Beach once a week each January to make filing for a property tax exemption easier on those citizens. It is my desire to make the services our office provide as convenient and accessible as possible.
In closing, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the fact that my candidacy would not be possible if it were not for the opportunities given me by the property appraisers for which I have had the opportunity to work.
As I stated earlier, it would be an honor to serve as Bay County’s next property appraiser. I will always have the best interest of Bay County’s property owners at heart. The citizens and property owners of Bay County can rest assured that my allegiance is to them; and them alone.
With the Lord’s help and the help of our 38 dedicated staff members, I am confident I can achieve my goal of giving Bay County the premier property appraiser’s office in our great state.
I thank you for your time and I would be most grateful for your support on August 26th.
Thank you,
Dan
Fact or Fiction?
Property Appraisers have the authority to prevent large assessment increases but want to see property owners suffer.
Fiction
(FL. Const. Art. VII, Sec. IV; F.S. 195.027)
Property Appraisers can tell the Department of Revenue to take a long walk on a short pier and then set assessments where they wish.
Fiction
(F.S. 195.002, 195.027, 195.092, 195.096, 195.097; F.A.C. 12D-8.020)
Property Appraisers are required to follow the laws set forth by the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes.
Fact
(F.S. 195.002, 195.027, 195.092, 195.096, 195.097; F.A.C. 12D-8.020)
Failure to follow the law carries severe, costly penalties that would hurt homestead property owners the most.
Fact
(F.S. 195.092, 195.097)
Dan Sowell has been a strong advocate for property tax reform and relief.
Fact
Property owners have recently received a measure of relief with Amendment One’s passage, with more, hopefully, on the way this November.
Fact
Dan Sowell would use his position as Property Appraiser to defend Bay County’s best interest.
Fact
Dan Sowell for Property Appraiser. So well qualified.
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As stated in section 106.011(14), F.S. the candidates running for State,
Multicounty, District or Judical office must file with the Department of State
Division of Elections, click here for a link to the Division of Elections.
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