First Day On the Job for New County Assessor

With his official swearing in as St. Louis County's Assessor Wednesday, Jake Zimmerman started sizing up his staff and how they go about the business of setting property assessments.

Zimmerman was sworn in at a noon ceremony in the St. Louis County Council chambers at 41 S. Central Ave., in Clayton. Zimmerman, a Democrat, defeated with 64 percent of the vote, Republican real estate sales executive L.K. "Chip” Wood for the office on April 5. It is the first time in 50 years that the assessor is an elective office.

Before the ceremony, Zimmerman had already gotten down to work. He held a town hall-type meeting April 15 with members of the office staff to learn some of their thoughts and concerns, he said.

“I've been doing some preliminary work and meeting with people one-on-one,” Zimmerman said. 

He said there could be some changes in job responsibilities and some shuffling around of staff. There will also be new hires to fill existing vacancies.

Until a thorough review of systems and processes are completed, Zimmerman said, he cannot predict staff changes.

“The sooner the better, but we should be realistic. We're in the middle of reassessment season right now and property owners are starting to get those notices in the mail,” Zimmerman said. “So, the first thing the office has to do is get the job done and make sure every taxpayer is getting treated fairly.”

Zimmerman said his “grand plans for building new and better systems, to some extent, are going to have a trial by fire” in the ongoing assessment process.

Zimmerman is an Olivette resident, three-term state representative, attorney, and alumnus of Harvard Law School. He was an assistant attorney general under now-Gov. Jay Nixon.

His swearing-in invocation was given by Rabbi Susan Talve, followed by the national anthem in an a cappella rendition by Gustavo Perez Diaz. The Rev. Earl Nance gave the benediction. The St. Louis County Police Color Guard presented the flags.