Each Lincoln County candidate who will appear on the Aug. 8 Primary Election ballot has been contacted by The Daily Leader and asked to reply to a questionnaire.

The same set of questions was sent to each candidate, even those who are running unopposed.

The responses are offered in no particular order, and no candidate had the opportunity to see any other candidate’s answers prior to submitting their own. No edits were made for content.

Each week, we will present responses from two candidates, along with reminders of who their opponents are.

This week we present the responses from two of three candidates for Lincoln County Tax Assessor/Collector.

Incumbent Tax Assessor/Collector Blake Pickering is running for reelection. Republican challengers Marjorie Montgomery and Rita Wilkinson Goss will face Pickering in the primary, where this race will be decided.

Previous articles can be found at www.dailyleader.com.

Replies from Tax Assessor candidate Montgomery have already been published.

Responses from Pickering and Goss are as follows:

 

Blake Pickering, Tax Assessor/Collector

Pickering lives in Brookhaven and has been Lincoln County Tax Assessor/Collector for two terms.

How would you grade your success to this point in this office? Do you plan to keep things going in the same direction, or change course?

I have successfully implemented several changes that have improved in-office wait time. These include upgrading office hardware, adding an online payment option for personal property taxes, cross-training employees, and remodeling the Collector’s office.

Our office has received perfect, or near-perfect, audits of mapping and real and personal property rolls from the Department of Revenue. My office has consistently been praised as one of the most capable and knowledgeable in the state.

I plan to continue building upon all the good work we have done so far.

 

How would you address transparency and accountability of this office?

I strive to be known for having an open-door policy and being as transparent as possible with every tax payer. I expect my office to be able to answer any questions regarding how and why something is a certain way. If we can’t answer your question, we should be willing to find you the answer.

I am proud of the standard of accountability we have upheld. As of the last completed yearly audit, we have not had a single finding against our office. We know the importance of our job, and we strive to do it well enough that you can place your confidence in us.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time, and I will do my best to answer any questions or concerns that you may have.

 

What are the most pressing issues in this office and how would you address them?

The most pressing concern facing the office today, is meeting the needs of a growing county within the staffing and budgeting constraints that exist. Our mapping staff is less than half the size of most comparably sized counties. Working solutions have been developed, but issues with the mapping databases have caused setbacks. We are continually adjusting to find workable solutions. In spite of these difficulties, my staff has continually risen to the challenge and been recognized for their hard work and competency in audit after audit.

 

How would your role in this office improve Brookhaven and Lincoln County?

As your tax collector/assessor, I have served on the Mississippi Association of Collectors and Assessors (MACA)’s legislative committee for the past 7 years. I have served as the MACA representative to the Mississippi GIS (Mapping) council for the past 3 years. Recently, I have been a bill reader for MACA, where I work to make sure that bills passed that negatively impact your taxes are opposed or flagged.

I have also worked to maintain a tax friendly environment for homeowners and small business owners, alike.

My degree in accounting, along with my 8 years of experience, makes me the most qualified candidate for this office. I will continue to maintain the same level of intense oversight over your tax dollars that you have the right to expect.

 

What are your reasons for seeking this office and why should voters elect you?

I truly enjoy what I do. I never lose sight of the fact that taxes are an unenjoyable but necessary part of life. I will always do everything I can legally do to help people. I pride myself on going above and beyond by taking important paperwork to shut-ins for signing, personally rechecking assessments when they are questioned, hand-delivering tax renditions to help a small business, or doing everything within my power to get someone’s solid waste issue resolved.

I expect everyone who interacts with me or my office to be treated with the utmost courtesy and respect. You will often see me walking behind the counter of my office to ensure that all of your questions get answered and that you are getting the level of service that you deserve. Even in those rare moments when I am not available, I try to have each and every person called back within 24 hours with an answer to their problem.

 

Please share any family, personal information you’d like to include. 

I have been married to my beautiful wife Nicole for the past 12 years. We have been blessed with three children, Lexi (8), Rustin (6), and Connor (2). I am a lifelong Lincoln County resident. My family and I attend Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where I teach Sunday School, lead Sunday evening Bible Study, and serve as Discipleship Training Director. I graduated from Mississippi College with a B.B.A in Accounting. I was the Assistant Business Manager for the Lincoln County School District for 6 years before being elected. I have served as your Tax Collector/Assessor for the past 8 years and look forward to serving you for many more to come, if I am reelected.

 

 

Rita Goss, Tax Collector/Assessor

Goss lives in the West Lincoln community and is an eligibility coordinator for Gulf Guaranty Insurance.

What is your assessment of the previous or current occupant of this office, and, if elected, would you keep it in the same direction or change course?

My assessment of the current occupant of this office is the lack of interest and knowledge or the understanding of the importance of the accuracy in deeds and making sure property is transferred to the correct property owners. Working with the supervisors and the mapper to make sure the mapping is updated correctly and keeping your employees abreast of changes and current concerns.

When I was elected in 2012 the State Auditors made me aware that Lincoln County was going to lose the Homestead Exemption if I didn’t get our serious mapping errors corrected. While taking on this challenge I soon realized that our county was the only one that didn’t have our property maps online. I am the first Tax Assessor for our county to provide our property maps online! This is so helpful to many people in Lincoln County and others. Our schools, lawyers, realtors and so many more are able to access them from their offices and homes daily.

I had serious challenges as a new Tax Assessor/Collector but I handled them with strength, dignity and determination.

 

How would you address transparency and accountability of this office?

I have ALWAYS had an open door and I’ve done my best to help anyone with their issues in the past and I will do it again. These positions are accountable to the State and Local Governments. It’s highly important to process deadlines in timely manner. I have been accountable and responsible to complete requirements requested from each entity and I’ve passed all audits in the past and I will continue to have that integrity as a professional.

 

What are the most pressing issues in this office and how would you address them?

The most pressing issue is accuracy in our land rolls. I will be diligent in making sure we have deed changes processed accurately and all accounts processed in timely manner.

 

How would your role in this office improve Brookhaven and Lincoln County?

I, Rita Wilkinson Goss, as Tax Assessor/Collector of Lincoln County and the City of Brookhaven, would ensure the voters that I would be an asset because I have the experience, dedication, qualification and determination to serve with integrity. I love my City and County!!

 

What are your reasons for seeking this office and why should voters elect you?

I am seeking this office because I’m qualified and experienced and I would like to serve the voters of Lincoln County again. I have a vast knowledge of these offices and I understand the importance of accuracy. With my experience and dedication I will add value to the offices of Tax Assessor/Collector.

 

Please share any family, personal information you’d like to include. 

I’ve been married to Ken Goss for 35 years and we have a beautiful daughter, Emily. I was born in Lincoln County. I am a graduate of West Lincoln High and Copiah Lincoln Community College. I am Professionally designated as a MS Collector of Revenue, Collector of Revenue I and II and Certified Appraiser.