Lloyd Hara, Bob Rosenberger run for King County assessor

Seattle Port Commissioner Lloyd Hara and Bob Rosenberger, a longtime former appraiser in the King County assessor's office, filed as candidates for assessor Wednesday.

Wednesday was the first day of a special three-day filing period for the Nov. 3 election to complete the remaining two years on the term of former Assessor Scott Noble. Noble resigned in June after pleading guilty to vehicular assault in connection with an alcohol-related, wrong-way collision on Interstate 5 in January that injured him and two women in another vehicle.

The election will be held without a primary because Noble resigned too late for a primary to be held.

Rosenberger, who left the assessor's office in 2008 after working there 24 years, said, "I decided to step forward because I think it's important that we have an assessor who has experience in assessments."

If elected, Rosenberger said he would encourage the state to take a fresh look at 103 property-tax exemptions he said were enacted for worthy purposes but have shifted more of the tax burden onto ordinary working-class families.

Hara, former county auditor and four-term Seattle treasurer, said he would encourage the Legislature to raise the eligibility limit for the exemption for seniors and the disabled above the current $35,000 annual income level.

Hara said it's time for change in the assessor's office. "It's almost 20 years under the same administration. It's time for a new fresh look, new ideas," he said.

Redmond accountant Bob Blanchard also has announced his intention to run.

Leadership of the assessor's office has been in flux since Noble was hospitalized after his freeway accident. His chief deputy, Rich Medved, became acting assessor when Noble resigned in June, and Medved announced he would run for the position.

But Medved was hospitalized with a stroke last month, one day after the Metropolitan King County Council deadlocked on whether to appoint him or Chief Appraiser Lynn Gering as assessor until the November election.

When it became apparent Medved would not recover quickly, the County Council named Gering assessor. Gering had supported Medved for elected auditor, and Rosenberger was Medved's campaign manager.

Cathy Allen, Medved's former political consultant, said last week he remains in a hospital, where he has opened his eyes but has not spoken since his July 14 stroke.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com