See Blowback from Fisher Participation in Chevron Assessment Appeal Continues, November 11, 2009, New Chevron Refinery Appeal Has County Seeing Ocean of Red Ink, October 24, 2009, and A Friend of Chevron Gives It a Costly Gift
October 21, 2009.

From: BOS District1 [mailto:Dist1@bos.cccounty.us]
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:29 PM
Subject: Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors appoints Art Walenta to Assessment Appeals Board

Board of Supervisors Appoints El Cerrito resident Art Walenta to the West County Seat on the Assessment Appeals Board

On Tuesday, November 10th, the Board of Supervisors appointed my recommended nominee, Arthur Walenta, to the Contra Costa Assessment Appeals Board.  This five-person Assessment Appeals Board is responsible for reviewing and ruling on property tax disputes. (All property owners have the right to appeal the assessed value of their property.)  Each Supervisor nominates candidates to represent his or her district.

Mr. Walenta joins the Appeals Board at an important time.  The Board is currently reviewing a property tax appeal by the Chevron Corporation, which claims the County has over assessed the value of Chevron's  Richmond Refinery. Mr. Walenta's background and experience make him an excellent board member to consider this, and all appeals.

An El Cerrito resident, Art Walenta is retired after a 37-year career as an attorney in the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office and County Counsel's office. He served for 10 years as the attorney for the Assessment Appeals Board.  When he retired from the County, he was the Assistant County Counsel. Mr. Walenta has a B.S. degree in Business from U.C. Berkeley and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

His long history of professional and community service includes serving as Chair of the Northern California County Counsel School Attorneys Section; as a trial referee for the State Bar Court, and on the Board of Directors for the Bay Area Girl Scout Council. He's received numerous awards including the University Student Cooperative Association 2007 Alumnus of the Year.

Mr. Walenta remains active in community service. He's a member of "Attorneys for Children," which fund-raises for children in homeless shelters in Alameda County; a member of the El Cerrito Democratic Club; a Health Educator for Kaiser Permanente, where he teaches self-help to people suffering from chronic illnesses, and President of the Berkeley Student Cooperative Alumni Association, which provides assistance and advice to U.C. students.

John Gioia
Supervisor, Contra Costa County
11780 San Pablo Ave. Ste D
El Cerrito, CA 94530
510-374-3231 Phone
510-374-3429 Fax
www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/dis1

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