Candidate for
Assessor; County of Sacramento

Margaret Pennington has spent three decades as a tax professional at the Board of Equalization, which is California's elected tax appeals board and the body that adopts the Property Tax Rules that govern the system of property tax appraisal and assessment. She currently serves as a top advisor to Acting Board of Equalization Member Barbara Alby with the pay grade of Tax Consultant Expert. She previously served in the same capacity with Board Member Bill Leonard since 2003.

As a candidate for Assessor, Margaret Pennington is unique in having served for many years in the Office of the Taxpayer Rights Advocate at the Board of Equalization. In that position, her full-time job involved helping taxpayers assert their legal rights and helping to resolve their tax problems. Bill Leonard hired her on the basis of her great reputation as a taxpayer-friendly problem solver who could get things done. She would bring these critical skills to the job of County Assessor.

Ms. Pennington was an influential member of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's California Performance Review. Although the Legislature did not adopt the Commission's recommendations, Margaret's proposals for stream-lining and consolidating California's tax agencies were among the most popular and best received of the entire package of reforms. Her ideas would have saved the State of California many millions of dollars if they had been implemented. Margaret's expertise in government efficiency and cost-cutting will be a tremendous benefit to Sacramento County taxpayers.

Margaret's other experience includes things like developing the Board of Equalization program for the YMCA's Youth and Government program, Chairing the Women's Advisory Committee, and working with the Board's Education & Outreach Office to help taxpayers comply with California's complex tax rules. She was influential in the creation of the Pro Bono Legal Assistance Program that matches unrepresented taxpayers with law students who assist them with pending tax appeals.

Margaret Pennington is also a devoted mother of three daughters and a son. She and her family are active in the Souls' Harbor Church in Sacramento. Her education includes an Associate degree in Business and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies.