It’s experience versus experience in the Republican primary contest to succeed John Whitehead as Knox County property assessor, featuring a former occupant of the office running against the person who currently runs its day-to-day operations.

Property Assessor John Whitehead isn't running for reelection because of term limits.

Whitehead is prevented from running for re-election because of term limits.

Former Property Assessor Phil Ballard is seeking the seat he occupied for two terms. If he wins, it will be the second time he has followed Whitehead in the office — he was first elected in 2008, when newly enforced term limits mandated by the county charter took effect and prevented Whitehead from running again.

Jackie Raley has been managing the daily operations of the property assessor’s office as Whitehead’s chief deputy for the past eight years. Whitehead has endorsed her candidacy and serves as her campaign treasurer.

The next property assessor will oversee a reassessment of property in the county in 2026. The value assigned to each property during that process, combined with the jurisdiction’s tax rate, determines the size of the owner’s property tax bill.

Both candidates could end up spending more than $100,000. 

Raley has raised $118,121, which includes a $5,000 loan she made to the campaign. She took in $16,685 during the final three months of last year. 

Ballard, meanwhile, is relying mostly on $99,158 in loans he made to the campaign. He raised $32,127 during the last quarter of 2023.

After expenses, Ballard had $85,138 on hand as of Jan. 15; Raley’s balance stood at $65,610.

The winner of the March 5 Republican primary will go on to face Democrat Drew A. Harper in the Aug. 1 general election. We will take a closer look at Harper ahead of that contest, but for now we’ll profile the GOP candidates.

Jackie Raley

Raley said property assessors have tough jobs. They must follow state law and then work with taxpayers who often dispute the office’s decisions. And she said the office needs to do a better job of communicating with property owners.

“The key is just being here every day and being willing to listen to the taxpayer, being willing to make sure their information is correct, and do the right thing by them,” she said in a recent interview. “And honestly, that's what people want.”

The 2022 reappraisal, conducted amid soaring property sales prices, resulted in sticker shock among many property owners when they found their assessments — and subsequently their tax bills — had increased dramatically. 

Raley said she would focus on educating the public about the process. She said property owners can’t just assert their taxes are too high; they must present proof about their claims. 

Higher valuations trigger higher tax bills, she said, but they also mean the property is increasing in value and would be worth more when sold. Reappraisals are based on the market — qualified sales within a certain geographic area and other factors.

“In my administration, I just want to be out there everywhere I can, explaining in the reappraisal,” she said. “What's happening and why it happens, what you can do, how you can appeal it if you don't think it's right, what you need to bring to the appeal process if you don't think it's right.”

Raley said she might not be able to do what property owners ask her to do, but she would listen to them and treat them fairly.

Raley, 58, grew up in Fountain City and graduated from Central High School. She was a cheerleader for the Bobcats, and as an adult spent a decade coaching the CHS cheer squad. 

“I love my community and I love working with young people,” she said. “The best thing about coaching was the relationships because it's so cool to see my former cheerleaders as nurses, doctors, school teachers, and still have a relationship with them today.”

Raley worked in the family business, Raley’s Tanning Company, for many years, and Ballard hired her to work in the property assessor’s office in 2009. She moved on to work in Juvenile Court until returning to the property assessor’s office in 2016 to work for Whitehead.

Raley said staff continuity is important in a transition of administrations, and that 95 percent of the current staff of 45 would stay on under her leadership.

“Our two co-directors of appraisal have combined over 75 years of experience working in the assessor's office,” she said. “We have six different divisions within our office, and we have so many people that have been here 30, 35 years, so we have a lot of experience.”

Raley said the campaign, her first, is going well.

“It's just so humbling to go door to door in a neighborhood and see your signs,” she said.

And speaking of signs, she’s not a fan of her opponent’s signs that say, “Re-elect” Phil Ballard. While technically true since Ballard served two terms in the office, he’s not the incumbent and Raley said it’s disrespectful to Whitehead.

“I do think that it is misleading, and I've had my phone ringing off the hook about it,” she said. “People are upset over it.”

Raley said that voters can be certain that she is ready to take over the office in a seamless transition.

“I'm ready to serve on day one,” she said. “I will ensure fairness, professionalism and transparency in the assessor's office and I will be at work here to listen to the taxpayer.”

Phil Ballard

Ballard served two terms as property assessor and has been waiting eight years to make a run for the position again.

“I love the job,” he said. “I love the opportunity to help people. I’ve had a lifetime of  community service and the extension to politics, governmental service, was something I enjoyed and I was good at it.”

Ballard, 70, grew up in East Knox County, graduated from Carter High School, and still lives in the area with his wife, Cindy.

Ballard said voters should look at his performance leading the office from 2008 to 2016. Even though his tenure started at the beginning of the Great Recession, he won reelection — a 19-point victory over Whitehead in the GOP primary — in 2012.

“That was overwhelmingly a vote of confidence,” Ballard said.

He lamented that some of the technological improvements he brought to the office have been replaced or shelved, and said he would emphasize modernization and public service.

“The role of the assessor of property is important,” he said. “They become an advocate and ambassador for every member of the public.”

Ballard said a well-trained staff utilizing all their talents and training would create an environment of excellent customer service and help ensure fair and accurate assessments.

“When I was property assessor, we went from pad-and-pencil to the 21st century,” he said. “The technology and training come together.”

Ballard said a trained, data-driven staff would be able to assure the public that assessments are supported by market conditions.

Ballard was critical about how the 2022 assessment was handled. Unlike previous assessments, that year’s review came five years after the previous one, instead of the common four-year interval. 

“They originally said they did that because Mr. Whitehead did not want the next property assessor straddled with a reappraisal going into office,” he said. “That’s sheer nonsense because it still takes four years, no matter when it occurs.”

Ballard’s take on the current staffing situation in the assessor’s office is at odds with his opponent’s view. He asserted that employee turnover is high and vowed to improve retention. His strategy is to give employees more tools to do their jobs.

“I can’t sit here and tell you today, because I don't know the depth of the problem, but we will train people,” he said. “We're going to treat them where they don't want to leave.”

He said working for 30 years in the insurance industry prior to public service, plus his eight years running the assessor’s office, have given him the knowledge of how to blend technology and leadership.

“I know what to look for,” he said. “If you go in and take over an office and you don't know what you're looking for, you don't know how to get the data out of the system, then you're gonna get a lot of complaints and a lot of appeals.”

Ballard dismissed Raley’s criticism of the wording of his signs. “I just call it political bellyaching,” he said. “I want people to look at me and my history and make a wise choice.” 

Ballard said voters should choose him because he would improve the technology and training in the assessor’s office. He said that if the property assessor does the job right, the other government agencies and branches will be able to function.

“I have the experience,” he said. “I did that in the roughest time. Nobody else has had that type of experience. But I want to do it for the public, because I care and you matter. And that's the main thing. I'm an advocate and ambassador for you.”