Benton County assessor appointed to head state agency

Benton County Assessor Glenn “Bear ” Chaney
Benton County Assessor Glenn “Bear ” Chaney

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County Assessor Glenn "Bear" Chaney has been appointed head of the state Assessment Coordination Department by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, it was announced Thursday.

"My work as county assessor has been focused on making the assessment system work both efficiently and fairly for all Benton County's citizens," Chaney said. "This opportunity with the Assessment Coordination Department will allow me to continue those efforts working for assessment equity across the state."

Chaney said he had been offered the job and initially said he wasn't interested. He then reconsidered. It was an opportunity he couldn't pass up, Chaney said.

The Assessment Coordination Department works with the assessors in all 75 Arkansas counties to ensure state guidelines are being followed, Chaney said.

"The [department] is sort of the regulatory agency over the assessors," Chaney said. The department "doesn't tell them what to do -- they're all elected officials -- but we will give them the guidelines and check to make sure they're doing the appraisals correctly."

Chaney, who lives in Bella Vista, will resign his county post effective March 10 and move to Little Rock. He'll return to Benton County regularly.

"I'll be back every weekend or every other weekend," he said. "My grandkids are here and I'll be coming back to see them and my fishing buddies."

Chaney's office will be filled by appointment, said George Spence, county attorney. The Quorum Court will make the decision on his replacement. State law says the Quorum Court can fill any vacancy in a county office, Spence said. The person chosen to fill the vacancy cannot run for re-election, Spence said.

Chaney has worked in the real estate field for more than 30 years, working for three Arkansas assessor's offices and owning his own appraisal business, according to the news release from the governor's office.

Hutchinson said in a news release announcing the appointment, "Bear brings decades of experience in real estate and as an assessor. His expertise in the field and his knowledge of Arkansas real estate makes him an ideal fit to lead this important department."

NW News on 02/27/2015

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