Schererville Town Councilman Michael Troxell announced Tuesday he will be a candidate next year for Lake County assessor.
Troxell said he attained last month the Level 3 assessor-appraiser certification needed to serve as a county assessor, as required by a new state law.
He said he is an experienced local government official, having served a total of 23 years in the public sector. His experience includes 14 years on the Schererville Town Council and other public boards and commissions. He recently served as chief deputy recorder under former Lake County Recorder Michelle Fajman.
Troxell said he would give up his seat on the Schererville council if elected assessor.
The 52-year-old is a graduate of Highland High School, attended Indiana University Northwest and the American Institute of Banking. Troxell also has been town chairman for the Democratic precinct committee for 17 years.
He is the second Democrat to join the campaign for county assessor, who must oversee the uniform determination of market value of business and residential properties for taxing purposes. County Councilman Jerome Prince, D-Gary, announced his campaign last month.
Troxell's announcement comes four days after a countywide caucus of Republican precinct officials named Jolie Covaciu to replace the former county Assessor Hank Adams, who died last month. She said she will run for election in the 2014 Republican primary.
