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Rinehart, Ebenroth face off in assessor race
By Mark Johnson
Incumbent Cathy Rinehart is being challenged by Mike Ebenroth in the race to become the next Clay County Assessor as the Nov. 4 general election draws near.
“I feel privileged to be an elected official,” said Rinehart, who is running for her fourth term in office. “I enjoy taking care of the public.”
Ebenroth, a Kearney resident who has extensive experience in real estate and business, said it is time for a change.
“I feel I can do a better job,” he said, citing a need for fair and accurate assessments along with a faster appeals process.
Ebenroth said too often in Clay County there was a disparity in assessments, even within individual neighborhoods.
Rinehart said she has made many improvements within her department, especially in the last four years, while maintaining a budget surplus.
“People from throughout the area are copying what we are doing,” she said, noting the use of laptop computers and other technology in the field, in effect creating mobile offices.
Rinehart added that her office is also exploring using a system that could capture images of the entire exterior of a home, providing additional, accurate documentation for assessments, including for any outside improvements that had been made.
As far as working with other departments within Clay County government goes, Ebenroth, who was on the Excelsior Springs City Council and served a term as mayor in the 1990s, said that would not be a problem.
“In any office or business, there has to be give and take as long as there is a benefit for both sides,” he said.
Ebenroth added that if he were elected the assessor’s office, he would be readily accessible to all Clay County residents.
“I would have an open door policy,” he said. “Residents could come in to talk to any of my people, including me.”
Rinehart said she understood the needs of area residents, especially as someone who has been employed by a company and as a small business owner.
“I know who I work for, it’s the citizens of Clay County,” she said.
Senior writer Mark Johnson can be reached at 358-6397 or mjohnson@npgco.com.
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“I feel privileged to be an elected official,” said Rinehart, who is running for her fourth term in office. “I enjoy taking care of the public.”
Ebenroth, a Kearney resident who has extensive experience in real estate and business, said it is time for a change.
“I feel I can do a better job,” he said, citing a need for fair and accurate assessments along with a faster appeals process.
Ebenroth said too often in Clay County there was a disparity in assessments, even within individual neighborhoods.
Rinehart said she has made many improvements within her department, especially in the last four years, while maintaining a budget surplus.
“People from throughout the area are copying what we are doing,” she said, noting the use of laptop computers and other technology in the field, in effect creating mobile offices.
Rinehart added that her office is also exploring using a system that could capture images of the entire exterior of a home, providing additional, accurate documentation for assessments, including for any outside improvements that had been made.
As far as working with other departments within Clay County government goes, Ebenroth, who was on the Excelsior Springs City Council and served a term as mayor in the 1990s, said that would not be a problem.
“In any office or business, there has to be give and take as long as there is a benefit for both sides,” he said.
Ebenroth added that if he were elected the assessor’s office, he would be readily accessible to all Clay County residents.
“I would have an open door policy,” he said. “Residents could come in to talk to any of my people, including me.”
Rinehart said she understood the needs of area residents, especially as someone who has been employed by a company and as a small business owner.
“I know who I work for, it’s the citizens of Clay County,” she said.
Senior writer Mark Johnson can be reached at 358-6397 or mjohnson@npgco.com.