By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – In what he says will be his last run for the office he has held since 2003, Whitney Joseph has announced his candidacy for re-election as St. John the Baptist Parish assessor in the Oct. 22 general election.

Joseph, 64, was elected to the post in 2003 after serving as chief deputy assessor and parish financial manager since 1973. If elected, it would be his third term in office.

“Being assessor for the parish has been very rewarding, and I feel good about the things I have accomplished so far,” Joseph said in a statement. “Working with the various taxing bodies to reduce the millage rate, an open door policy in my office and a commitment to being transparent, honest, fair and available to the residents of St. John are just some of the things I will continue to do.”

Joseph said he has always tried to work to change the way property is assessed and reassessed every four years. He wants to continue to seek a solution that will prevent residents from being “taxed out of their homes.”

Joseph also said he wants to remove the income requirement for a freeze on property assessments for homeowners age 65 or older. He has met with local representatives in an effort to get that done.