Candidate for
Assessor, County Clerk and Recorder; County of Riverside

BIOGRAPHY/RESUME of James J. Brzytwa

710 Via Orizaba, Riverside, CA 92506-3644

(951) 686-8476 Home, (951) 522-7414 Cell

web site: http://www.electbrzytwa.org, email: jbrzytwa@electbrzytwa.org

Objective: Election to the office of Riverside County Assessor - County Clerk - Recorder

Vision: With my hands-on experience in many facets of the responsibilities of the ACR, and my management and legal education and experience, I possess the skills that will enable me to lead and manage the office of ACR in a successful manner. I can independently interpret and apply legal and management principles to the tasks at hand. I have the experience to focus on what is important in getting a job done, and to avoid impractical and distracting matters. I will do my best to improve efficiency, eliminate wasteful practices, heighten professionalism among staff, promote fiscal accountability, and provide openness and fairness in all matters relating to service to the public.

Education: BA in Business Administration (Management) with honors, California State University, San Bernardino, 1975. Juris Doctorate, California Southern Law School, 1981.

Experience: December 1985 through December 2000: Deputy County Counsel in the office of Riverside County Counsel. Provided professional legal services in the fields of governmental and civil law. Specialized in the areas of ad valorem property taxation, collection, and distributions; sales and use tax law; development fees and exactions; county and departmental finance and budgeting; real property, land use, zoning, building standards, and environmental quality. Advised and counseled county departments on legal issues as requested. Sat as counsel to the Board of Supervisors, East Area Planning Council, various task forces, committees, and project groups. Researched and drafted resolutions, ordinances, opinions, contracts, pleadings and briefs, and other legal documents. Studied and interpreted laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities. Litigated land use and taxation cases from the administrative tribunal and trial court level through appellate review by the California Supreme Court.

September 1971 to December 1985: Appraiser I through Supervising Appraiser in the office of the Riverside County Assessor. Determined the market value of real property for tax assessment purposes. Assisted in the development of the Assessor's computer assisted appraisal program by selecting, training, and supervising a task force of personnel to review and update property characteristics information and generate computerized property appraisal records. Supervised the Property Identification Division and Market Data Section of the Assessor's Office, developing procedures to comply with Proposition 13, and reading and interpreting complex legal documents and recorded deeds pertinent in maintaining the county assessment roll and in determining changes in ownership of property for appraisal purposes. Represented the Assessor before the assessment appeals boards, at interdepartmental meetings, on committees, and on public speaking engagements.

April 1969 to September 1971: Map Draftsman in the office of the Riverside County Assessor. Researched, compiled, and drafted assessor's parcel maps.

August 1965 to January 1969: Photogrammetric Cartographic Analyst in the United States Air Force. Working in the intelligence field, compiled and drafted military air target charts and radar simulator air navigation maps from classified sources. Security clearance: Top Secret. Honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Seargent, E-5.

Qualifications: I served the County for nearly 32 years as both a Deputy County Assessor and Deputy County Counsel before retirement. I have traveled the entire County and know it well. I have broad knowledge of county government law. Working with county management on a daily basis, I gained a thorough understanding of the County's mission and the interrelated workings of its many offices and departments. As a team player, I delivered effective and efficient service to the County and its offices, always with the goal of achieving the greatest benefit to the County and at the least cost to the public.

In the Assessor's Office, I gained substantial experience in map drafting, in real estate appraisal, and in management. At the same time, I completed my undergraduate studies in management and attended law school at night. After admission to the State Bar of California, I moved to the office of Riverside County Counsel where I developed expertise in property tax law. I represented the County and the Assessor in many taxation lawsuits and administrative proceedings involving millions of tax dollars. Among my successes, I appeared a number of times in the courts of appeal and once before the California Supreme Court. I particularly pride myself in two published opinions that substantially impacted property tax law and administration: Title Ins. & Trust Co. v. Riverside County (1989) 48 Cal. 3d 84, and State Bd. of Equalization v. Ceniceros (1998) 63 Cal. App. 4th 122. With my combination of appraisal and legal experience, Assessors and legal colleagues throughout the State have recognized me for my special expertise in the field of property taxation.

In addition, I provided legal counsel to the County Clerk and Recorder functions. I litigated title issues and authored numerous letter opinions and memoranda involving legal documents and related issues. I am experienced in real property, land use, and title law. I am familiar with the recording process, title searches, title insurance law, and the mechanics of modern day micrographics and imaging.

I have sat as counsel to the County's Growth Fiscal Impact Task Force, and in meetings of the Strategic Vision Steering Committee. As a county attorney, I participated in complex tax and financial analyses involving the Santa Rosa Plateau acquisition, the Teeter Financing Plan (tax receivables financing), the Western County TUMF, Development Mitigation Fee enactments, and many other fee and exaction issues. With this experience, I am acutely aware of the importance of planning, financing, and budgeting for the County's future growth needs in terms of staff development, facilities, and information technology enhancement.

Personal: Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I have lived in the City of Riverside for 40 years. My wife and I have been married for 36 years and have one daughter. We enjoy travel, especially RVing in our motorhome, walking and hiking, gardening, and our home life together. My interests are many and varied. I am an avid reader and I keep up with legal developments in my areas of expertise. I enjoy cars and car repair and belong to a local club + Corvettes West. Over the years, I have tried my hand in most craft and construction activities. I tinker with all things mechanical and electrical. I specially like carpentry, woodworking, and tile setting, at which I spent many days and hours over the past two years refurbishing my daughter's first home.