Jo Gridley will seek assessor's post

Jo Gridley has announced her candidacy to run on the Democratic ticket for the office of Elmore County Assessor.

She is currently the chief deputy assessor, under Jim Haydon, who has decided not to seek re-election. Haydon has been grooming her to take over the position.

Gridley began her career in the Assessor's office in September 1977. Under the tutelage of Ron Ross and his chief deputy assessor, Marlene Beck, Gridley gained a "tremendous amount of knowledge and experience," she noted.

Her first responsibilities included analyzing the sales of real property. She subsequently became a certified appraiser in 1978.

Gridley's education, as it pertains to appraisals and assessment, continued under Jim Haydon, who became assessor in 1986, and Lu Smith, his chief deputy, until her retirement in 1990. Gridley has served as the chief deputy since Smith's retirement, noting that she "is surrounded by an excellent staff."

She has worked in all areas of appraisal, including residential, manufactured homes, agricultural, personal property, and commercial.

Gridley has been active in other areas in the community. She is currently the vice chair of the Board of Trustees for the Mountain Home School District. She has served as a member of the school board of since first being elected in 1992.

Gridley also is currently fulfilling her second six-year term on the Diaconate Board of the First Congregational Church, having served as vice chair and as chair.

She also is a former member and officer of the Sagebrush Shufflers and local bowling leagues.

Gridley has been an Elmore County resident for over 28 years.

She is married to Phil Gridley, currently employed by the City of Mountain Home as the fire chief. They have two married daughters and two granddaughters.