AAC


and she’s ready to use that knowl- edge in a new capacity on the AAC Board of Directors. Baker, who replaces former AAC


Dana Baker P


ope County Assessor Dana Baker knows the ins and outs of serving in a county government office,


Board member and Columbia Coun- ty Assessor Sandra Cawyer, worked in the Pope County courthouse for 19 years — seven years in the circuit clerk’s office and seven in the asses- sor’s office — before she was elected assessor in 2012. She began her first term in January 2013. Baker is a life-long resident of


Atkins in Pope County and is well acquainted with the county’s natural beauty. She enjoys taking weekend Jeep rides, wading and swimming in its creeks, and fishing in Lake Atkins. Baker has deep family roots in At- kins. Her “unique family,” including her parents, aunts, uncles and cous- ins, live within 15 miles of each other. “You mess with one of us, you get the wrath of us,” she joked. Baker has been married 25 years to her husband, Rodney, and has seven children. Te couple also has spent about 20 years as foster parents to many children in Pope County. Baker is the daughter of Oscar and Linda Freeman, who recently cele- brated their 58th


wedding anniversary.


She looks to them as a couple who takes pride in an honest day’s work. “My dad is the hardest working man I have ever met,” she said. He retired as a welding/shop main- tenance foreman from Bibler Lumber Co. about 15 years ago, and now at


COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2020


FEATURE


Pope County assessor brings 19 years of experience to AAC Board of Directors.


79, helps maintain Baker’s rental properties. He takes on any project she asks of him, Baker said. Baker has applied her par-


ents’ lessons to her position serving Pope County. As assessor, she takes pride in helping taxpayers understand the process of assessing and taxes. “I have learned one of the biggest obstacles is to get the taxpayer to fully understand from start to finish, valuing their prop- erty,” she said. “On most occasions, they may not be com- pletely happy about what they have learned, but they will leave with a smile on their face.” Showing residents that she under- stands their concerns is paramount to working in the assessor’s office. “My coworkers and I try to go


above and beyond to make our customers feel welcome and com- fortable to ask any questions they may have,” she said. “We share our knowledge and understanding to handle each need.” Baker has been recognized for her


exemplary work in county govern- ment. She is the recipient of the 2019 Kenneth Eddy Memorial Award, and the Arkansas Chapter of the Interna- tional Association of Assessing Offi- cers 2019 Assessor of the Year Award. She has served her community and her fellow assessors in other capaci- ties, including five years as Atkins Planning Commission Chairman, and four years as Arkansas County


Assessor’s Association board member and two years as association president. As a new member of the AAC


board, Baker is eager to address issues impacting her fellow assessors, as well as other county and district officials. “I am looking forward to serving on the AAC Board,” she said. “Not only working with the fine elected officials currently serving, but being able to add my wealth of knowledge and ex- perience to the pool of knowledge of my peers currently serving. I feel this board is the voice for each association and serving is a commitment to your association that you have their best interest at heart.” Baker hopes to focus on areas that


are impacting the future of local gov- ernment and the citizens of Arkansas. “We serve in an everchanging


world,” she said. “Terefore, stay- ing on the front end of technology, community interests, public welfare, and unification — finding common ground upon which to build — is not only important, but vital to me.”


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