May 24, 2004 2 min read

We have just a few brief things to say about the recent ruling that cleared Fayette County’s chief assessor Jim Hercik of wrongdoing. – The county’s tax assessment system was corrupted long before Hercik became an employee. This happened through political meddling in 1971 by breaking what was fixed and through political timidity every year after in failing to fix what everyone knew was broken.

– As an employee, Hercik worked with the tools the county gave him and at no time did he possess the clout to single-handedly devise assessments that were fair.

– Hercik lobbied long and hard to change the flaws and finally during the last administration found commissioners with the political will to do what was right.

– Hercik is and was a county employee. He shouldn’t be stuck with some $35,000 in legal bills for charges incurred on the job. The county needs to honor its commitment to cover the costs. If the commissioners want to attempt to recoup the attorney fees from the state or its insurance carrier all the better. But the county, not Hercik, ought to lead the charge for reimbursement.

– Rep. Larry Roberts, who led the campaign to have Hercik punished by petitioning to have the state yank his license and his livelihood, needs to apologize to Hercik and to every resident of this county for wasting its time and resources.

– The Department of State must not file an appeal. The hearing officer’s ruling was exhaustingly thorough and completely vindicated Hercik and assessor Candace McCahill.

There is not a thing to gain by pursuing this vendetta. And that is exactly what this has always been, a political vendetta. It has absolutely nothing at all to do with equity and tax fairness.

If the department pursues this we would wonder if it has pursued similar charges against assessors in any of the other 66 counties where assessments are out of whack. And there are plenty of counties to pick from.