The position of a county assessor is a difficult one. Doing the job right means making unpopular decisions. 

Norm Agena has been making those tough decisions as Lancaster County Assessor since 1990. The Journal Star respects his record. We support him for re-election.

Agena faces challenger Pat Faden, a commercial appraiser who works in the office and who is on the ballot by petition. Both are Republicans.

One of the issues in the campaign is the recently completed countywide appraisal that resulted in a near-record number of protests. About six in 10 of almost 10,500 protests were successful.

Some of the valuation errors were due to a new computer system that Agena says in the long run will provide better service in two ways. It will allow some forms to be filled out online, and it will allow some data to be entered only once, rather than three times.

One reference point for judging the performance of a county assessor is whether state officials, who oversee the work of county assessors, have ordered changes in valuation. That’s never happened in Agena’s tenure in office.

In fact, Agena this year invited the state property tax administrator to audit his office. Catherine Lang declined, explaining that her office undertakes audits only when assessment practices in a county may be deficient in some manner.

Under his leadership, the assessor’s office has operated in an open, competent fashion while staying up-to-date. Agena’s proven record makes him the best choice in this race.