by Glenn Tschimpke
Staff Writer
The race to succeed Duval County Property Appraiser Ernie Mastroianni has attracted an agency insider.
Fran Beach, an assistant commercial supervisor with the Property Appraiser’s Office, filed paperwork recently with the Supervisor of Elections Office to begin raising campaign money for the election next spring.
“I’ve been in this business 28 years,” said Beach, who is registered as a Republican. “It’s time to give people a choice of somebody qualified for the position. A lot of your other constitutional officers are administrative. The property appraiser really has to know appraising.”
Beach has been with the Property Appraiser’s Office in Jacksonville since 1989. Prior to that, she spent 11 years with the Orange County property appraiser and was also a city assessor in Vassar, Mich. in the mid-1970s. She currently deals primarily with commercial real estate and tangible personal property.
The fact that Beach has decided to run does not answer the question of whether Mastroianni will run for reelection. Previously thought to be term-limited next year, Mastroianni may be able to run again after the Florida Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of former Clerk of Courts Henry Cook that term limits did not apply to his seat. Whether the decision will apply to all constitutional offices remains to be seen. Mastroianni, who has been property appraiser since 1987, said before the ruling he is ready for retirement on the beach, and added jokingly that a bag boy job at Publix would suit him fine. If his professional aspirations have changed, he’s not telling.
Beach received neither Mastroianni’s blessing nor his scorn regarding her campaign.
“He just said to go ahead and run. He has not decided what he is going to do,” she said.
As it stands, Beach’s only competition is City Council member Dr. Gwen Chandler, who will be term-limited out of the Council next year. Chandler filed her paperwork in early May and has no formal experience in property appraisal. What she does have is community recognition.
“The politics is new to me,” said Beach. “It is possible for people to come in and succeed if they have good people. I have to get my name out there. I’ve been working behind the scenes for the last 12 years.”
One way to build name recognition is to buy it through vigorous campaigning. While $250,000 seems to be the magic number in terms of raising money, Beach is optimistic she can do it for less. So far, she has $1,000 in her campaign coffer — a personal loan to the campaign. Chandler has raised $3,860, which includes a $100 loan.
City Council member Jim Overton has also expressed interest in the position but has not made any decisions.