DCAD Review Board’s First Publicly Elected Directors Are on The May 4 Ballot

Tucked into the property tax reform passed last year was a change in the way the appraisal district’s board of directors is put in place.

In the past, the board was comprised of appointees, usually made by the mayor or other political heavyweights, as well as county officials. Though the seats for the board of directors are non-partisian, political appointments are usually a reward for supporters of the winning candidate.

But starting this year, in counties with populations of 75,000 or more, the nine-person board of directors will have two appointed and three publicly elected at-large positions. The tax assessor will also become a voting member of the board.

What does the the board of directors do? Mostly pass the budget, elect the chief appraiser, and install any policies and procedures that would govern the appraisal district. They won’t set your property values or appraise your property, but their job is to manage and oversee the people who do. It is a nominally paid position.

Taxpayers may not see many changes to the protest process, but state legislators wanted the voice of the people at the table. Here are the people running — two did not bother with Ballotpedia profiles, so we had to do a little digging.

Place 1:

Ekambar Kumar Singirikonda: Ekambar has worked as an IT manager and a mortgage loan officer and holds a Texas real estate license. He and his wife live in an Irving home valued by DCAD at $544,380. Here is what he says in his prolific Ballotpedia profile:

Back in 2004, I had two rental properties in Irving, but I was losing money instead of making a profit because of high property taxes. So, I sold them. Then, in 2008, I bought my primary home in Irving and noticed that property valuations weren’t always fair or transparent. Every year, my property taxes kept going up, and it didn’t seem right to me. That’s when I realized I wanted to do something about it. In 2014, I got my license as a Mortgage Loan Officer, which helped me understand how mortgages work and how they affect the real estate market. This knowledge is crucial for understanding property valuations. Then, in 2023, I became a licensed real estate agent. This lets me work directly with clients, negotiate deals, and stay up to date on what’s happening in the market. Through my work as an agent, I’ve learned a lot about how property values are determined and what factors influence them. My background in both mortgage lending and real estate brokerage gives me a well-rounded perspective that’s really useful for assessing property values fairly and accurately. I’m dedicated to bringing this experience to the Dallas Appraisal Board and helping ensure that property assessments are done with integrity and excellence.

P. Wylie Burge: Dr. Burge is a podiatrist in practice in the Lakewood area. He has not completed his Ballotpedia profile but appears to live in Buckner Terrace with his significant other in a home valued at $317,097.

Dr. Burge doesn’t waste time: his appraisal board hearing is scheduled for May 6 at 7:30 am.

Place 2

Kendall Scudder: Scudder lives in Junius Heights with his spouse, and his home is valued at $508,600. If the name sounds familiar, in 2022, Scudder ran for the Democratic nomination in Texas House District 114.

Kendall Scudder lives in Junius Heights with his wife Carly, has a degree in Political Science from Sam Houston State University, is studying for his Masters Degree in Political Management at George Washington University, expected to graduate in Fall 2024, son of a mental health professional, paramedic, and corrections officer, has been involved in political activism on behalf of his LGBTQ+ family, and has worked in Dallas as an affordable housing professional and a real estate analytics company. He opened his own land acquisitions firm.

Kendall has served on the City of Dallas’ Civil Service Board, on the legislative committee of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas, and as co-chair of the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals. He has also dedicated himself to helping elect Democratic candidates across the state, and improved financial transparency and strategic planning within the Texas Democratic Party in his elected role as Vice Chair for Finance (Finance Chairman).

Kendall plays pickleball, and serves as a “Volunteer In Patrol” for the Dallas Police Department.

Place 3

Alexandra Mason Stewart: Alexandra Stewart also did not fill out her Ballotpedia profile, but a bit of research revealed she is about 31 years of age, lives in the Monopoly Place Duplexes on Galway Drive, has lived in an apartment on Skillman Street, and previously resided in apartments in Atlanta and Tucker, Georgia.

Election Day is tomorrow, Saturday, May 4.