Primary countdown: Douglas Wolf, candidate for Pinal County Assessor

The primary election is Aug. 28 and early balloting is underway. InMaricopa.com has been publishing two to three Q & As at a time done with candidates in primary races.

The final two candidates in this series are running for Pinal County Assessor: Republicans Douglas Wolf and Jeffrey Acton.

Name: Douglas Wolf
Age: 56
Occupation: Computer technology sales
Residence: San Tan Valley
Family: Wife of 30 years and two adult children
Education: B.S. in business administration and minor in mass communications.
Hobbies: Tennis, travel, writing
Favorite quote: “Pray as if it all depends upon God, and work as if it all depends on you.”
Heart’s desire: To help everyone live their life to its full potential, unrestricted by government.
Political experience: Two years on the staff of  a Republican congressman in Minnesota.

Why are you running?

Pinal County has been overtaxing and overspending for years and it has to stop. I want to work with the board of supervisors to reduce taxes. The way property taxes are calculated is too complex and needs simplification. I want everyone to understand how they are being taxed and where to go for redress. I want to be the advocate for the taxpayer in the Assessor’s office.

What is your biggest election challenge?

The size of the county makes is very difficult to get my message out.

Why should Maricopans vote for you?

Pinal County is going to undergo tremendous growth in the next decade. We need to have a county government that is lead by people with the business experience to manage that growth in a positive way and I think I can provide that. I have 25 years working in both real estate and the technology sectors.

Who are you voting for president?

Mitt Romney

What is the most pressing issue facing Maricopa? What would you do about it?

I would say that managing future growth. That might seem optimistic based on current conditions, but growth is coming. With the Phoenix Mart and the other economic initiatives ongoing, the corridor that runs west of 1-10 to Casa Grande will be highly impacted. We need to have county leaders in tune with the best way to grow our area and make government a partner in growing the economy.

Why should voters care about the county assessor position?

Because it is your money the county spends and most of it comes via property taxes. That means our systems and staff have to be topnotch to provide the service our taxpayers deserve.