A Message from Jett…
Due to a recent and little noticed change in state law, three members of the board that oversee the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) now must be elected to this position of trust. The first election to fill those seats is SATURDAY MAY 4, 2024. I want to be a part of that change in governance, your voice on the board. I recommend Daniel Wang in Place 2 and Dick Lavine in Place 3.
Election information:
Election Day: Saturday May 4, 2024
Early Voting: April 22-April 30, 2024
Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail: April 23rd, 2024
TCAD Races are at the top of your ballot.
Polling Locations and Sample Ballots at VoteTravis.com
Check your Voter Registration Status, Voting Address, and Personalized Sample Ballot
Jett’s Vision for the District
Fair Appraisals. If appraisals are not equal and uniform as required by law, everyone doesn't pay their fair share. If State Comptroller audits disagree with Appraisal District values, our schools face budget shortfalls.
Accountable leadership. Sound management of the Appraisal District requires strong oversight of the Chief Appraiser, who must understand both the complexity of appraising and managing an office responsive to the public.
Courteous and helpful taxpayer service. We must assure that the Appraisal District has understanding, well-trained personnel who can answer taxpayer questions and explain how their valuation was determined.
Qualified Appraisal Review Board. The Review Board hears appeals of tax valuations. Improper actions by Review Board members could lead to failure of audits and delays that cost taxpayers money.
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About Jett…
He’s a life long Texan and an Austin Resident since 1980 when he moved here to get his law degree from UT.
He was Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law, and served on the Travis Central Appraisal District from 1988-1990.
As a Senior Vice President, Jett helped his customer-owned insurance company improve from a C- to an A Best Rating.
He is currently a member of the Texas Supreme Court Professional Ethics Committee.
Among his volunteer activities are volunteering with the Del Valle Correctional Facility chaplain’s office to facilitate meditation, and helping with local hospital emergency communications as an amateur radio operator.
Jett is a homeowner, with a child who rents, and pays property taxes. He’s been married to Ann Denkler, a community and Democratic Party volunteer, since 1991.
He has no direct real estate investments except his home.
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About the Board of Directors and the Appraisal District
Local governments set tax rates based on the Appraisal District property values.
The Board of Directors manages the Appraisal District by hiring and managing a Chief Appraiser, approving the budget for the District, and hiring the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) – citizens who hear appeals from property owners.
The Chief Appraiser and her staff set valuations. After property owners are notified of valuations in April and May, property owners can discuss problems with valuations with appraisers. If still dissatisfied with valuations, property owners can have a hearing before a three-member panel of the ARB (NOT the Board of Directors) to reduce the valuation. The Board of Directors is prohibited from influencing or changing decisions of the independent ARB. A Taxpayer Liaison, who reports to the Board of Directors, is available to help taxpayers who are having difficulties with the appraisal process.
Appeal to the ARB is usually the last step in the process for most homeowners. It is thus essential that the ARB gives all property owners a full and fair hearing and set accurate values. The new law that created three elected positions to the Board of Directors also requires that ARB applicants receive the votes of two of the three elected directors (as well as the majority of the Board) to be appointed. That's why this election is so important!
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Our Supporters
Austin Central Labor Council
Austin Young Democrats
Central Austin Democrats
Progress Texas
Pflugerville Democrats
University Democrats
US Representative Greg Casar
Senator Sarah Eckhardt
Representative John Bucy III
Representative Sheryl Cole
Representative Lulu Flores
Representative Vikki Goodwin
Representative Gina Hinojosa
Representative Donna Howard
Representative James Talarico
County Judge Andy Brown
Commissioner Ann Howard
Commissioner Margaret Gomez
Commissioner Brigid Shea
Commissioner Jeff Travillion
County Treasurer Dolores Ortega Carter
District Attorney Jose Garza
Constable Adan Ballesteros
Constable Carlos Lopez
Constable George Morales
Constable Tonya Nixon
Constable Stacy Suits
ACC Trustee Stephanie Ann Gharakhanian
ACC Trustee Julie Nitsch
ACC Trustee Nan McRaven
Austin City Council Member Alison Alter
Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis
Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes
Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri
Austin City Council Member Chito Vela
Pflugervile City Council Member Rudy Metayer
Austin ISD Trustee Lynn Boswell
Austin ISD Trustee Kathryn Whitley Chu
Austin ISD Trustee Andrew Gonzales
Austin ISD Trustee Noelita Lugo
Austin ISD Trustee Arati Singh
Austin ISD Trustee Ofelia Zapata
Manor ISD Trustee Ana Cortez
Pflugervile ISD Trustee Jean Meyer
Fmr. Representative Debra Danburg
Fmr. Representative Scott and Victoria Ford Hochsburg
Fmr. Representative Elliot Naishtat
Fmr. County Commissioner Karen Sonleitner
Fmr. County Attorney David Escamilla
Fmr. Austin Council Member Jimmy Flannigan
Fmr. Austin Council Member Jackie Goodman
Fmr. Austin Council Member Ora Houston
Fmr. Austin Council Member Laura Morrison
Fmr. Austin Council Member Kathie Tovo
Fmr. Austin ISD Trustee Ann Teich
Fmr. Sheriff Margo Fraiser
Cristina Adams
Ginny Agnew
Ana Aguirre
David Albert
Debbie Alfaro
Phoebe Allen
Alexandra Anderson
Linda Bailey
Dana Bartholomew
Andrea Bergia
Heather Bland-Ho
Carolyn Blasdell
Jeb Boyt
Mary Breen
Lorraine Broll
Garry Brown
Sharon Brown
Cecelia Burke
Kyle Burke
David Butts
Sylvia Camarillo
David Carter
Joe Cascino
Perla Cavazos
Jeffrey Clemmons
Richard Cofer
Jessica Cohen
Karen Collins
Anne Compton
Kim Tyson Cook
Marta Cotera
Jim Cousar
Cecelia Crossley
Chris Cruz
Leslie Currens
Janice Curtis
Logan Davidson
Morgan Davis
Alicia Del Rio
Ann Denkler
Jane Denson
Vicki DeWeese
Maria Diaz-Figueroa
Caro Dubois
Kolby Dylon
Peter Einhorn
Hunter Ellinger
Jim Ellinger
Ida Esfandiari
Ed Espinosa
Roxanne Evans
Gavino Fernandez
Annie Fierro
Sharon Fleming
Mike Franklin
Veronica Frederick
Lucy Frost
Blanca Garcia
Jerusalen Garcia Jordan
Susan Gezana
Bob & Heidi Gibbons
Julie Gilberg
Paulette Gindler
Sarah Goodfriend
Betsy Greenberg
Idona Griffith
Bill Hamilton
Lisa Harris
Melinda Harris
Evie Hartman
Marvin Hecker
Anne McCready Heinan
Dan Heinan
Mike Hemer
Charles F. Herring, Jr.
Tina Hester
Ranleigh Hirsh
John Hoffner
Jack Hohengarten
Laura Hernandez Holmes
Karen Horan
Natalie Houchins
Kevin Jackson
Paul Jarmon
Maria Jimenez
D'Ann Johnson
Melissa Jones
Louise Joy
Caitlin Kalb
Gary Keith
Daniel Segura Kelly
Cynthia Keohane
Bill King
David King
Jolene Kiobassa
Bobbi Kommineni
Skyler Korgel
Julie Lass
David Lauderback
Heather Laurence
Victoria Lavi
Francesa Leahy
Gloria Leal
Jennie Lou Leeder
Reuben Leslie
Bobby Levinski
Hugh Li
Lolly Lockart
Alice London
Mary Lovell
Vanessa MacDougal
Hans Magnusson
Tim Mahoney
Mack Martinez
Donna Beth McCormick
JoAnn McKenzie
Gentry McLean
Jeaneane McNulty
Alex Meed
Eli Melendrez
Cindy Metcalf
Nick Miller
Kathy Mitchell
Marsha G. Mitchell
Marion Mlotok
Chris Mosser
Bob Murry
Gretchen Nagy
Katie Naranjo
Craig Nazor
Mary Ann Neely
Pierre Nguyen
Tom Nuckols
Tamra Shea Oatman
Anne Ochoa
Justin Parker
Beth Payan
Tanya Payne
Alejandro Pena
Brian Pena
Keaton Peters
Anna Pittala
Ana Salas Porras
Michael Portman
Adam Powell
Herman Prager III
Resa Pratt
Ross Pumfrey
Andrew Pyle
Ted Raab
Saundra Ragona
Virginia Raymond
Ashley Reed
John Reiser
Joe Reynolds
Judah Rice
Marilyn Rickman
Kathryn Rogers
Barbara Rush
Nathan Ryan
Paul Saldana
Jake Salinas
Julio Salinas
Pooja Sethi
Margaret Karan Shirk
Ted Siff
Joe Silva
Phil Simmons
Charlotte Slack
Craig Smith
David Smith
Haley Smith
Mark Smith
Diana Spain
Susan Spataro
Stephen Speir
Donna Squyres
Ben Suddaby
Iris Suddaby
Paul Sullivan
Carol Teitelman
Christian Torres
Andre Treiber
Jill Van Voorhis
Janel Van Zandt
Pedro Villalobos
Van Vo
Nancy Walker
Catharine Wall
David Weinberg
Steven Weintraub
Tom Whatley
Brian Wheat
Nancy Williams
Larry E. Williamson
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