FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Teresa Kirkham’s assessments are 30% higher than they should be — through her own admission during recent debates.

The State said about 8 counties have their own models/computer systems with the rest using the State's system as Teresa Kirkham has decided. The State said the elected Property Assessor is responsible for their own assessments. Teresa argues the State is responsible for her high assessments, but that is not ture. The Property Assessor is responsible even if they use the State's model/system. Each county has the flexibility to use their own or simply default to using the State's system. At a recent debate, a staged Teresa Kirkham's supporter stated that using a model like the one that I have described ((link...)) would be illegal. This is untrue and meant to confuse the public. Teresa often blames the State. The State clearly said the elected-Property Assessor is responsible for their assessments. The key is the fair market value.

During the debates, Teresa was also asked about her staff campaigning for her while on offical business re-assessing people's homes. She tried to deny it. She then stated that the home owner must have mentioned the election first - which was not the case. Her clarification was that her employees could openly talk about her re-election campaign after the home owner mentions the election first. She then defaulted to the position that her Appraiser was part-time, so it was fine if they campaigned on the taxpayer's dollar. I disagree. I have already pledged to not use the Office's staff for campaigning ((link...)). This is better for everyone - the employees and the public.

Attached is my recently published comparison matrix of Property Assessor issues from the recent debates ((link...)).

It's time for a change. I ask for you to stand with me.

Respectfully,

David

P.S. - I promise to stand strong against Teresa's current and future attacks. Roane County deserves fair assessments.

David Morgan for Roane County Property Assessor
It's time for a change. Fair Property Assessments for everyone.
fairpropertyassessments.com | 865-376-9453

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I have run a very positive campaign. My campaign has remained focused on the issues and my qualifications for the office. Competing against a powerful incumbent is a huge task. Over the course of the campaign, I have raised several thousand dollars from everyday small donors who share the belief in my platform of fair assessments. Surprisingly, the amount that I have raised is significantly more than the incumbent reported on her 1st Quarter campaign disclosure. I have worked hard to intelligently spend those critical donations in order to get my message out; however I still have much work to do, and I need your help to finish the job.

As I write you this letter, early voting is only 13 days away. With that said, I would like to thank every person who has already contributed to my campaign. I am humbled by your support of me, a first-time candidate for office. Your donations have helped fuel the campaign from the very beginning to achieve our very competitive position. A recent poll has me up 20 points over Teresa Kirkham (59% Morgan, 37% Kirkham, 3% Robinette).

Like you, I know that we cannot become complacent. We all know that Teresa Kirkham is gearing up for her advertising campaign. We know she is willing to spend whatever it takes to fight for re-election, and we know—through her own admission—that her assessments are 30% higher than they should be. I am committed to standing strong for the people of Roane County; however, I will need your help to match her deep pockets and those of her allies who have become entrenched through 20 years of political favors. Teresa’s favorite campaign phrase is, “I’ve been good to you, haven’t I?” It is my belief that the Roane County Property Assessor should be fair to everyone, not just good to her supporters.

It’s time for change. I am counting on your help. This week I need donations of $100, $25 or even $5 to keep the positive momentum going. Together we can win back the Property Assessor’s office for the people of Roane County. I strongly believe that Roane County is in need of fair property assessments, and I am fully committed for that to be my primary objective once in office.

Please send all donations to: David Morgan for Property Assessor, 102 Village Trace Unit 11, Kingston, TN 37763. You can also give me a call at 376-9453, and I’ll be glad to come by and see you.

Thank you in advance for your continued support. I encourage you to forward this email to your friends, neighbors and family members. Time is critical and victory is within reach.

Respectfully,

David

David Morgan for Roane County Property Assessor
It's time for a change. Fair Property Assessments for everyone.
fairpropertyassessments.com | 865-376-9453

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As a candidate for Property Assessor, I pledge that I will not ask, require or mandate any of the department’s employees to campaign on my behalf.

I truly believe this new policy will be in the best interest of both the tax payers and the department’s employees. I will respect each employee’s individual freedom to support which ever candidate they so choose. I will ensure discussions within the office is focused squarely on the work at hand, not the election; thereby providing a wall between politics and their individual choice. This wall will allow department employees to vote for whomever they chose by ensuring an environment free of retaliation.

It is my strong belief that the department’s employees must stay focused on their duties. I understand that they are funded by taxpayers and owe the taxpayers their full effort. I believe that carrying out the Office’s duties professionally is highly critical in ensuring the fair assessments that my campaign is all about. It is my belief that any distractions from those duties during the election cycle become a disservice to the sworn oath of the Property Assessor.

As a personal commitment, I pledge to keep my future political races separate from my duties, both while on official business in the courthouse and out in the community. I will continually reassure the department’s employees that by focusing on the work at hand, future political elections will not impact the department’s business and should result in consistent and professional staffing.

I believe the policies laid out above will be in the best interest of both the tax payers and the department’s employees.

As I have publically stated numerous times, I strongly believe the current office includes many good people and employees. I look forward to discussing with each of them their desire to continue working under my leadership. As I have also stated, I commit to being their partner by ensuring they have the proper training and qualifications to meet my pledge of fair assessments for everyone. Please understand, the prior statement is not saying in any way that I don’t believe the staff lacks training right now, but I am instead saying that I need to assess that as I believe we can have improved training as a way to continually do the best we can for Roane County.

In closing, I will run my office professionally without infusing politics into its daily operations. I look forward to being your next Property Assessor. I hope Roane County looks forward to the change I will bring.

Thank you.

David

It's time for a change.
Fair Property Assessments for everyone.
fairpropertyassessments.com
David Morgan for Roane County Property Assessor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As I have been out speaking to voters, people repeatedly ask me, "If elected Roane County Property Assessor, what will you do differently to ensure proper and fair assessments?"

My short answer is this: “I will use real market data, including both the positive and negative sales. The incumbent Assessor does not use this data as she should. I will use real world sales data that coincide with Roane County’s actual real estate economy.”

Basically, Teresa Kirkham has driven assessments artificially high by not including the real data.

As your next Property Assessor, I will correct this. I will include external obsolescence, short sale and foreclosure data into the comparable sales, plus I will calculate the absorption rate and housing supply as I develop an economically sound model. The incumbent Assessor doesn’t; in fact, she is primarily using only the "positive data" while ignoring the lower sales data. This is not an economic reality and it should not be happening. Her assessment methods simply end up driving Roane County’s assessments higher and higher over time. We know the reality: this economy has been horrible. Roane County needs someone in the Property Assessor’s office who can relate to the real world economy. We need someone who will use the real data to ensure fair property assessments. As your next Property Assessor, I will do that.

I am running for Property Assessor because the current assessments are unfair. It is my strong belief that many of Ms. Kirkham’s assessments are grossly inflated. Conversely, it is my driving principle to achieve fair property assessments for everyone in Roane County. I understand that fair property assessments = fairer property taxes paid. Every day, I have people tell me that they could not sell their property for the inflated assessed value provided by Ms. Kirkham’s office. This is not fair, and people are hurting.

Lest we forget, Roane County had one of the worst environmental disasters in history right here in our backyard – the TVA ash spill. The incumbent Assessor made no adjustments whatsoever to account for the economic impact. Ms. Kirkham may have forgotten—but I have not forgotten, and I believe voters in Roane County will not forget.

These are just a couple of the differences between Teresa Kirkham’s and my professional philosophies regarding fair assessment. I am certain that once all the economic data are properly factored into the equation, it will help bring the assessed values and current real estate market closer together.

In closing, Ms. Kirkham continues to say that she has no control over the assessments in Roane County. She incorrectly cites the misconception that the State mandates exactly how her office must conduct the assessments and re-assessment. This is just not the reality. As your next Property Assessor, I will use sound assessment principles. I will take responsibility for the Assessor’s Office, and I will not blame others for unjustly driving up the values on our taxpayers.

I ask for your vote as we fight together for fair property assessments for Roane County.

Thank you.

David

It's time for a change.
Fair Property Assessments for everyone.
fairpropertyassessments.com
David Morgan for Roane County Property Assessor

In Saturday’s Knoxville News Sentinel article by Bob Fowler, Roane candidates swap barbs in property assessor's race the reporter states - “Already, Property Assessor Teresa Kirkham and one challenger in the Aug. 2 election, David Morgan, have traded accusations.” The article reports on the voter intimidation charges against Teresa Kirkham. Readers of the article might think the barbs are a new development, as it didn’t point out the repeating trend of bards coming from the Teresa Kirkham campaign.

As a point of clarification, the stark difference is the fact that David Morgan’s charges are grounded in protecting voters from political intimidation, which is campaign related. Teresa Kirkham’s accusations are instead more gutter politics of an ugly personal nature which are not campaign related. The Teresa Kirkham campaign continues the mudslinging - it’s plain and simple.

Teresa has already been successful in getting the Roane County News to run negative stories on three of her opponents. With this new KNS article and interest growing outside of Roane County by the media; it seems pretty obvious that Teresa Kirkham’s re-election strategy has been to take out her opponents early in the race. Her strategy relies on old political maneuvers instead of focusing on the real issues of job performance and qualifications that are important for the future of Roane County. The Morgan campaign has observed that voters are starting to see through Teresa’s old political tactics and they are not liking it.

Voters are also recognizing the fact that David has the education, plus the proven experience in engineering, management, supervision and budgets to run the Office with accountability. Voters are getting behind David, as they know he has what it takes to be a fair and successful Property Assessor for Roane County.

David will remain strong for the betterment of Roane County, as together; we turn the page for “change”. David will not let Teresa pull him into her ugly gutter politics. David is asking for everyone to stand with him against old political maneuvers that only benefit the few.

It's time for a change.
Fair Property Assessments for "everyone".
fairpropertyassessments.com

I have received numerous calls from the Roane County News asking pointed questions about my candidacy. The reporter had been corresponding with Teresa Kirkham and already had her input.

In an effort to keep this race focused on the real issues, I provide the following up front as clarification to the issues my opponent apparently wants to make into issues:

Yes, I was pulled over for speeding in 2007. I had received a call from a family member that was experiencing a personal and medical emergency. I drove at a high rate of speed in order to get to them and provide aid. I also had my hazard lights flashing the whole time. Upon noticing the police officer behind me, I attempted to motion the officer to follow me to the family member's house in order to provide assistance. The testimonies in court confirmed my story. The charges were dropped with costs to the state of Tennessee. As this situation was dropped, I still have a clean record. In this case my family responsibilities were my primary concern. In retrospect, I should have notified the proper authorities before I left my house.

Yes, I experienced a personal injury that predicated a suit for personal damages. The case has been in process for several years (since 2006). The damages to my health will be lifelong and have already impacted my life. However, these injuries will not impact my ability to perform the duties of the Property Assessor. The suit is filed against one company for their inability to maintain the necessary physical environment. Prior to the injury, numerous requests were made to correct the situation by myself and others.

It is clear that I have the proven experience to manage people, budgets, and properties. This is what it takes to be a successful Property Assessor for Roane County. Those qualifications must be making my opponent nervous.

Teresa Kirkham apparently doesn't want this race to be about voter issues or her performance; instead she wants it to be about gutter politics. I believe that's crazy; the people deserve better. I will defend myself and my supporters in Roane County - but I will not let her pull me into ugly gutter politics.

Thank you,

David Morgan
Candidate for Roane County Property Assessor
fairpropertyassessments.com

David is out working by listening to the voters. It may not be flashy point of sale advertising, however, listening is of utmost importance for serving the people of Roane County.

It's time for a change.
Fair Property Assessments for "everyone".
fairpropertyassessments.com
David Morgan for Roane County Property Assessor