Fair, Accurate Assessments — With Transparency, Integrity, Efficiency, and Service
Dear Residents of Contra Costa County, I’m Nick Spinner, and I’m running to be your next Assessor. The Assessor’s Office affects nearly every household and business. It should be an office the public can trust—one that delivers fair and accurate assessments, explains decisions clearly, and provides responsive service.
My campaign is built on four pillars: Transparency, Integrity, Efficiency, and Service.
A core priority ties these together: responsible modernization. Contra Costa County relies on legacy property tax systems that are costly to maintain and hard to improve. I’ve spent my career inside county government improving the systems residents rely on. As Assessor, I will lead careful modernization so we can deliver better service and transparency while controlling long-term costs and building public trust.
- Nick Spinner
What you’ll see from my campaign:
- Plain-language explanations of how assessments work and what to do if something looks wrong.
- Measurable service improvements: clear timelines, responsiveness, fewer handoffs.
- Modern, open, user-friendly online tools that help residents help themselves.
- Controlling costs by improving operations and modernizing legacy systems responsibly.
Meet Nick
I was raised in Martinez, attended Diablo Valley College, and earned my B.S. in Computer Science from Cal State East Bay. For more than a decade, I’ve worked inside Contra Costa County government modernizing mission-critical systems for the Assessor and Treasurer-Tax Collector—improving resident-facing services, strengthening data quality, and keeping essential systems running. As a Senior Systems Engineer and the County’s Property Information & Business Systems Manager, I understand the operational realities of assessment work and how to improve service without disrupting the annual property tax assessment process.
I also serve on the Crockett Community Services District Board of Directors, and I’m a proud homeowner in Crockett with my wife. I’m running for Assessor because I believe competent, responsive government matters—and because this office should be transparent, run with integrity, operate with efficiency, and deliver service you can count on.
Nick in 60 seconds
- Contra Costa County public servant (10+ years)
- Senior systems engineer; former Property Information & Business Systems Manager
- Built and improved resident-facing property tax tools and public dashboards
- Raised in Martinez; homeowner in Crockett
- B.S. Computer Science, Cal State East Bay; attended DVC
- Crockett Community Services District Board Director (President in 2024; VP in 2025)
- Eagle Scout (Troop 180, Martinez)
- Runs on: Transparency • Integrity • Efficiency • Service — with a focus on responsible modernization and cost control
Campaign Priorities
The Four Pillars
- Clear, plain-language information about assessments, common exemptions, and key deadlines.
- Better communication about what to expect when residents request reviews or corrections.
- Office performance reporting the public can understand (timelines, responsiveness, and progress over time).
- Improved online access to information while protecting privacy.
For example:
- Clear “start here” guidance for homeowners and small businesses.
- Better explanations for “why did my value change?” and “what can I do now?”
- More consistent updates so residents aren’t left guessing.
- Accurate, consistent, evidence-based assessments across neighborhoods and property types.
- Strong internal quality standards to catch errors earlier.
- Training and professional standards that support ethical decision-making.
- Clear separation between informal review help and the independent appeals process.
Notes
Plain talk: the job is not to raise values or lower values. The job is to get them right.
- Reduce avoidable delays by improving workflows and internal coordination.
- Use data to focus on high-impact work and improve planning.
- Work closely with other county offices so residents get faster, clearer answers.
Notes
Cost control commitment: the key question isn’t ‘How do we cut?’ It’s ‘How do we prevent costs from increasing drastically year over year?’
Any efficiencies found should be reinvested into improving service and responsibly modernizing the systems the office depends on.
- Make it easier to reach help and get clear next steps.
- Improve follow-through so cases don’t fall through the cracks.
- Provide plain-language support for seniors, veterans, homeowners, renters navigating ownership changes, and small businesses.
Notes
Seniors and veterans: promote and help residents access property tax relief programs and exemptions they qualify for.
Make the process easier to understand, with clearer guidance and better support.
Endorsements
Tap or click the pins on the map to see endorsers. Full list below.
- Anthony Tave— Mayor, Pinole
- Logan Campbell— Trustee, Martinez Unified School District
- Jay Howard— Vice Mayor, Martinez City Council
- Devin T. Murphy— Mayor Pro Tempore, Pinole City Council
- Marisol Rubio— Vice Mayor, San Ramon
About Nick Spinner
Contra Costa County public servant, systems engineer, board member, and Eagle Scout.
I was raised in Martinez, and Contra Costa County has been home since my family moved here when I was a kid. I attended Diablo Valley College and earned my B.S. in Computer Science from Cal State East Bay. I'm also an Eagle Scout (Troop 180, Martinez), and that experience shaped how I think about public service: be prepared, do the work, tell the truth, and leave things better than you found them.
For over a decade, I've worked in Contra Costa County government, helping teams modernize systems, improve reliability, and deliver better service. I'm proud of practical work that reduces friction, makes information clearer, and helps residents and staff get things done.
Source: Martinez News-Gazette, August 3rd 2005.
Outside of work, I serve on the Crockett Community Services District Board of Directors, supporting responsible budgeting and transparent local governance for Crockett and Port Costa. I've also been involved in local environmental advocacy through Sierra Club leadership.
Today, I'm a homeowner in Crockett with my wife. I'm running for Contra Costa County Assessor because I want an office that earns trust through transparency, integrity, and efficiency—and because I believe competent, responsive government is worth fighting for.
Why I'm running
I've seen what happens when government systems are confusing, outdated, or hard to access: people give up, misinformation spreads, and trust erodes. I'm running for Assessor to build an office that's easier to understand and easier to use—where residents can get a clear answer, staff have the tools they need, and values are set fairly and accurately, according to the law.
Source: Martinez News-Gazette, August 3rd 2005.
Nick Spinner combines transparency, creative problem-solving, compassion, and humility—committed to enhancing the well-being of the communities in Contra Costa County.
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