Crapo returned as property appraiser

Alachua County voters returned a familiar face to the Property Appraiser’s Office Tuesday.

Incumbent Ed Crapo, who has held the post for 28 years, won re-election in the primary, handily defeating challenger Alonzo Perkins.

With all precincts reporting, unofficial returns showed Crapo defeating Perkins by a 20,861 to 11,012 vote, a 65 percent to 35 percent margin.

Reached by phone, Crapo said he was not surprised by the results.

“I think I’ve done an excellent job, and 65 percent of the vote is about what you’d expect if you’ve done your job right,” he said Tuesday night.

Emotionally, he added, he was pleased by the showing of support.

“The position belongs to the people,” he said.

In his campaign for re-election, Crapo emphasized that his top concern was dealing with the changes enacted by the Legislature and voters last year. Among those changes is the Amendment 1 exemption of $25,000 for tangible personal property, which takes effect in 2009.

Recent declines in the real estate market could also have an effect on property values, Crapo said.

Perkins, who is a 25-year veteran in the appraisal and real estate businesses, had said in his campaign that accurately assessing property values would be his first concern.

Diane Chun can be reached at 374-5041 or by e-mail at chund@gvillesun.com.