Newly-appointed Interim Property Assessor Paige Beech
JAMES WOOD
Staff Writer
Paige Beech was sworn in by County Clerk Donna Thomas after the Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint her to the position of Interim Property Assessor during their March regular session.
Beech has worked in the Property Assessor’s office for 12 years, most recently as Chief of Staff for former Property Assessor Ronda Clanton. She also led the office between Clanton’s retirement and her own appointment.
Beech will now be tasked with officially leading her office until the next Property Assessor will be elected in August.
“I’m excited,” Beech said, “I really want to do a good job.”
Beech highlighted her commitment to maintaining the productive relationship between her office and the Comptroller of the Treasury that she has already established prior to Clanton’s retirement, which has allowed for a smooth transition for all involved.
“We have to answer to the Comptroller,” Beech said. “I’m very comfortable going to them if I have a question or an issue and they’re more than willing to help.”
Beech and her office will also be working in conjunction with other county offices to navigate the prospect of a senior tax freeze plan being adopted in Bedford County, which she will directly oversee.
“Depending on whether or not they adopt the Tax Freeze the next couple months, we are going to be overseeing a lot of it,” Beech continued. “Our field crew is going to have to go and do the checking.”
After the election, Beech plans to stay at the office to help her colleagues and the future Property Assessor. Beech voiced her encouragement for whomever wins the upcoming election, with Drew Reed and Emily Hodges being two candidates who work with her in the office currently.
“They are both very qualified and they’re both my friends.” Beech continued, “I have no intentions of running and when the time comes, I will just step aside and do what I normally do and help them any way I can.”
Beech reiterated her message to the public regarding the new transition of leadership and the next election, assuring residents that the office will continue to serve the county to the best of their ability.
“We are there for the taxpayers,” she continued, “If there are answers we don’t have for them, we will do our best to find them.”
