Pinellas Property Appraiser | Republican primary

Winner: Pam Dubov

This race is unfolding in the shadow of the county’s purchase last year of the current Appraiser Jim Smith’s vacant land for nearly four times its assessed value. Smith isn’t running for re-election. His longtime deputy, Pam Dubov is in the race, touting her experience and readiness. Her opponent, Frank Gregoire, stresses the need to restore public confidence in the office. The winner will face Democrat Ben Friedlander in November.

	Pam Dubov, 52	Frank Gregoire, 55
Experience	Dubov has spent 19 years in the Pinellas appraiser’s office, the last 16 of them as chief deputy. She was also director of standards and analysis in the Hillsborough County appraiser’s office in 1988.	Gregoire has been a real estate appraiser since 1977. He’s an owner of an appraisal business, Gregoire & Gregoire, in St. Petersburg. Gregoire is a former chairman of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board.
Education	Graduate of Cameron University, Lawton, Okla.; master’s degree in business administration, Florida Institute of Technology; law degree from Stetson University College of Law.	Graduate of St. Petersburg Junior College. Attended the University of Florida.
Short-term goals if elected	Recruit volunteers to further help low-income seniors and veterans obtain exemptions they may be eligible for. Convene a group of citizens and professionals who regularly use the appraiser’s office to review office policies and procedures.	Meet with stakeholders, including office employees, taxpayers and taxing authorities, to develop and implement a plan to restore public confidence in the appraiser’s office.
Long-term goals if elected	Dubov believes that Florida tax law is unfair to property owners who do not benefit from the Save Our Homes cap. She would work with state legislators to change that.	Gregoire thinks taxpayers are at a disadvantage when they challenge appraisals on their properties. He would work with state legislators to change that. He also wants to improve the office’s Web site and demystify the appraisal process for the public.
Assets	Home, IRA, savings bonds	Home, car
Liabilities	Mortgage	Mortgage, car loan
Net worth	$792,172	$134,490
Source of income	Salary, investments	Business and consulting income
Personal	Married Bruce Dubov; 3 adult stepchildren	Divorced; 3 adult children
Web site	Yes	Yes
E-mail	Yes	Yes

About the job: The Property Appraiser values land and buildings annually and administers dozens of tax exemptions allowed under Florida law. The values become part of a tax roll certified by the state revenue department. Appraisers serve four-year terms and earn $149,204 annually.