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Janet F. Plecker: Seeking first term
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
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MILLBORO - "Several people approached me and said they thought I would be a good candidate for this office," said Bath County Commissioner of the Revenue candidate Janet F. Plecker. "I thought about it and thought I would give it a try."
She said she is personable, dedicated, and works well with people. She emphasized she would be there for citizens at all times.
"I want the taxpayers to have the best service they can have from the commissioner of the revenue," she said. "I (also) think the office needs to be updated with modern technology and tax maps need to be updated and current."
She has worked for The Homestead for 35 years, the last 26 years in accounting. "My job on a monthly basis involves the financial statements of the resort," she said. She also works with water billing, customer accounts and Homestead vehicle registration.
She has been through several audits with the hotel and has some tax-preparation experience having worked for her mother-in-law's tax business part-time several years ago.
Plecker said the function of a county audit is to track all the information that has been collected throughout the year and ensure it is recorded in the correct manner to be reported to the board of supervisors or state. She said she wasn't aware how the commissioner of the revenue's office did on its latest audit.
She is not familiar with state laws regulating the government functions of the commissioner of the revenue, she said. But Plecker has a strong opinion about property reassessment. "Reassessment should be based on individuals, not compared to the Homestead Preserve. For example, the value of a $50,000 home should not be inflated just because of its proximity to the Preserve. They are in different neighborhoods and should be treated differently," she said.
"Assessors should consider the commissioner of the revenue's input because the (commissioner) represents the taxpayers," said Plecker. "I would want to make sure the (assessors) were fair to all. She said part of the commissioner's job is to oversee the work of assessors to make sure their methodology in arriving at assessed values is correct and appropriate.
As a manager, Plecker said she would be fair and organized. She also repeated a major position of her campaign and reason for running: "I will be there (in the office) at all times. I feel it is important to be in the office, during working hours as well as after hours as needed."
She said there are two employees working for the commissioner of the revenue and she would not change that arrangement if elected.
Plecker admits she doesn't know every detail of the duties involved. "Learning all the laws will be a main focus of my training and a present weakness because I don't know all the laws of the commissioner of the revenue," said Plecker.
For some, her status as a "government outsider" may be a weakness or a strength, depending on what voters want. "I worked part-time at the Millboro post office, but otherwise have no experience in government," she said.
She also hasn't been a manager for 26 years, either, but did have supervisory experience in her first seven years at The Homestead while working in reservations.
She knows the office deals with reassessments, business licenses, business taxes, tax maps, and state income-tax-form preparation. But Plecker said she has paid attention to voter sentiment. "I have listened to the taxpayer - the No. 1 issue is the commissioner of the revenue must be there for the taxpayer, must be their voice," she said.
Citizens she has spoken to have concerns about the way the commissioner of the revenue's office is now being run, she said. Plecker said she cares enough to leave a job she loves at The Homestead to be commissioner if elected.
"I would be ready and willing to take any classes necessary to fulfill the duties of commissioner of the revenue. I realize there will be (state-mandated) training. I would do whatever it takes to be certified and more knowledgeable," she said.
"I would be fair to all, regardless of family or whatever," said Plecker in response to a question about conflict of interest. "Laws are laws. It wouldn't be an issue. I try to abide by the law." She said nothing in her personal or business life will create a conflict of interest if she is elected. She also said she would learn more about the Freedom of Information Act if she is elected and attend commissioner of the revenue training. "All information is public knowledge, there for anyone to see," she added.
She wants voters to judge her ability to do the job based on her 35 years as an employee of The Homestead. "I am a dedicated employee, loyal, I'll be there," she said. "It would be completely new but I would do my best to be the best, most efficient commissioner of revenue Bath County could have."
About the candidate • Janet F. Plecker
• Age: 53
• Lives in Millboro, married to Craig Plecker, who is part owner in F.C. Plecker and Sons. She has two daughters, a son and two grandchildren.
• Graduated from Bath County High School in 1972. She has taken accounting classes in conjunction with her employment at The Homestead.
• Plecker has worked at The Homestead for 35 years - the first seven in reservations. and the last 26 in accounting. She is responsible for billing for water and members, vehicle licensing, real estate taxes, and taking care of guests accounting issues.
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