Constitutional Watchdog Committee Responds To Todd Kaufman, Loudoun County Assessor

I just received this email from a Constitutional Watchdog Committee, which includes a letter from Val H. Starr, National Chairman, Western States Constitutionalist Alliance to Todd Kaufman, County Assessor, Loudoun County, Virginia.

Here's the email:

"Dear Danilo,

Your plight with the Loudoun Tax Assessor has come to our attention.  Our Constitutional Watch Dog Committee has looked into the matter and has directed that I respond (see attachment).  We have address similar issues here in Arizona, and Nevada.  In those two cases we had no problems with the assessments being corrected due to the market value drop.  You seem to have a significant problem.  While our organization are NOT tax advocates per se, property rights, and the Constitution ARE major issues with us.  You are a little outside our sphere of influence, but oddly we have been requested to expand east, mostly from people in Virginia... who knows maybe we can establish a Task Force in Virginia soon.  In any event, please be assured we take our task very seriously, and you have the support of our Directors, Members, Volunteers, Staff and our resources 100%.  Please feel free to post our letter to Mr. Kaufman on any blog or website you feel correct.  We are here to serve.  When it comes to the Constitution we Teach It and  Defend It. If you need to call me, my home phone is (XXX) XXX-XXXX. YOU HAVE FRIENDS!

Val H. Starr"

Here's the letter to Todd Kaufman, County Assessor (sorry about the formatting not working when copying and pasting the letter from MS Word, but what is says is more important the way it looks):

Western States Constitutionalist Alliance

6833 Hwy 68, Suite 1-223

Golden Valley, AZ 86413

[email protected]

www.westernalliance.8k.com

From the office of the chairman

January 3, 2008

Todd Kaufman, County Assessor

P.O. Box 7000

Leesburg, VA 20117

Dear Mr. Kaufman:

I am sure that you must consider it a singular privilege to live in and work for the people of Loudoun, Virginia.  As a youth, and serving in the Army I had the pleasure of visiting Leesburg, while stationed for training at Ft. Lee.  I have always held the state and people of Virginia in special admiration: home of the great founders of our nation above others, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and your own James Monroe.  Therefore it is with some sadness, and partial disbelief that I have been brought to contact you in regards to what is clearly a violation of the United States Constitution.

I have the honor and privilege to be the National Chairman of the Western States Constitutionalist Alliance, a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization operating in the 14 western states.  We have friends and supports in your great state of Virginia, who have brought an issue to our attention, that we find we can not ignore. As teachers and defenders of the United States Constitution, it has become apparent to us that you have, either inadvertently or hopefully not deliberately, crossed the line in to violating the Constitution. 

To the matter at issue, our Constitutional Watch Dog Committee, has examined the blog publications of Mr. Danilo Bogdanovic, a realtor in Loudoun County regarding the assessment of taxes on "real property" in your county.  His assertions appear to be a point of view, and a request to your office to "address a grievance".  We have also reviewed your response to Mr. Bogdanovic, which can only be read as "threatening", "harassment", and sophomoric, totally unbecoming a public official. If the statistics were, or are in error, a simple clarification would have been in order. By your actions, who have violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, "...to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."  Further, Mr. Bogdanovic has a perfect right to state his views on the tax situation in your county, First Amendment of the United States Constitution "...abridging the freedom of speech...".   

Your order to Mr. Bodganovic to remove "erroneous" information does not identify any "erroneous" data.  If the facts are in error state the errors.  YOU do NOT have the authority to demand corrections if you do not identify what is in error. 

As a real estate professional, Mr.  Bodganovic is REQUIRED to disclose tax information to potential buyers and sellers as he sees them.  It is your job to correct errors in this information, if there are any, and make it known to the realtor, which it appears by your correspondence, that we have seen, you have chosen to ignore.

Any citizen of the United States of America can, and should demand a "redress of grievance" from Government, when a "grievance" is apparent and applicable.  The Western States Constitutionalist Alliance, will keep a close eye on this matter as it unfolds, and I can assure you that we are fully equipped to take appropriate actions when necessary to defend the United States Constitution, ask the City of San Diego, California.

Under separate cover we are enclosing a copy of the United States Constitution, read Amendment One...carefully.  Ask Mr. Plowman, Commonwealth's Attorney: the Constitution is the "Law of the Land". We teach it and defend it!

We invite you to visit our web site: www.westernalliance.8k.com we are proud to have supporters in Virginia, we hope that you will quickly correct these matters in question, and become one of them.

Most Respectfully Your Humble Servants,

The Western States Constitutionalist Alliance, Inc.

Val H. Starr

National Chairman

God Bless The United States of America

Cc:       Jim Plowman

            Scott K. York, Chairman (At Large)
Susan Klimek Buckley, Sugarland Run District, Vice-Chairman
Jim Burton, Blue Ridge District
Lori Waters, Broad Run District
Sally R. Kurtz, Catoctin District
Stevens Miller, Dulles District
Kelly Burk, Leesburg District
Andrea McGimsey, Potomac District
Eugene Delgaudio, Sterling District

Prof. Requel Wexler, Attny WSCA

----

Here is the official news release from the WSCA:

Western States Constitutional Alliance

6833 Hwy 68, Suite 1-223

Golden Valley, AZ 86413

Tel: (928) 279-9508

[email protected]

www.westernalliance.8k.com

January 3, 2008

NEWS RELEASE

In a letter from the National Chairman of the Western States Constitutionalist Alliance, Inc.(WSCA), to the County Tax Assessor of Loudoun, Virginia the WSCA cautioned Todd Kaufman that his attacks on a local realtor crossed the line of Constitutional law.

The realtor Mr. Danilo Bogdanovic, had asserted on his information blog, that county taxes on ‘real property’ were out of line with the current drop in property values and were not being properly addressed by the Assessor’s office.

The Assessor replied to the blog claims and request by threatening the realtor with ‘legal actions’, against him and his broker for putting out false information. The information that was supposed to be false was never addressed by the Assessor.

The WSCA became involved by a request to it’s Constitutionalist Watch Dog Committee. “Virginia is far outside our normal sphere of influence,” noted Val H. Starr, National Chairman. “We read the realtor’s blog, the threats and responses from the Assessor and determined that the Assessor was way out of line, and continued to be in his responses to others. The WSCA has supporters in Virginia, and while it is not our basic territory, a violation of the Constitution is a violation of the Constitution.’

“Our concerns deal with the First Amendment Rights of Mr. Bogdanovic, his right to state his views and concern openly… Freedom of Speech… and more important a DEMAND for a ‘redress of grievance’. No where in the Assessors responses, was there any correction of data or information to the public.” All of Mr. Kaufman’s reply’s were vitriolic threats, and name calling, unbecoming a government official. “

The WSCA does NOT normally get involved in local tax issues. “To us (WACA) this is not a

‘tax issue’, “ Explains Mr. Starr. “This is an issue of an attempt to quash public comment and concerns. The good people of Loudoun County have a Constitutional Right to demand an accounting. They have a right to state their opinions. It’s a simple as that” It’s ironic that the WSCA has been involved in property tax issues recently in both Arizona and Nevada, both of which seemingly went well.

The WSCA and their attorneys took on the city of San Diego of an issue of using cactus in landscaping and won the issue. “I don’t care if the tax methods in Loudoun County are correct or not.” States Starr. “That is up to the people and taxpayers of Virginia and the county. But it IS their Constitutional right to challenge them. And to do so freely, and without threat and harassment.”

Tempest in a Tea Pot. “I hope this is nothing more than a Tempest in a Tea Pot. “ Says Starr. “I hope that it is a matter of poor judgment, and improper response on the part of the Assessor. But be assured, if any action is taken against Mr. Bogdanovic for his statements of concern and his demand for ‘redress’ the county of Loudoun, Virginia will quickly see the presence of the Western States Constitutionalist Alliance.”

<>

For more information contact: [email protected]

--

Here are the original posts in case you're new to what's going on:

"Is A Real Estate Blog Protected By The First Amendment?"

"Broker Stands Ground Against Threats From Government Official"

Comments

[elmo the real estate web expert]

Thanks so much for writing this real estate blog. There are so many aspects to real estate buying , selling and investing that it is refreshing to read material that is relevant to real estate.

Bravo and God Bless!

ELMO
Real Estate Professional

[Scott Ficek]

I love it. Looks like you guys brought your "bigger angel" to the fight. I am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for a response!

[Mark A.]

Good letter, and not meaning to be picky, but at the end of the letter (signature) it reads: "God Bless The Untied States of American". Untied???

[Danilo Bogdanovic]

Mark - You're not being picky at all. Thanks for catching that.

[Jim Windwalker]

I think Untied is a good expression. I think the citizens of all states should be untied.
It seems that tying up citizens with red tape and unconstitutional applications of laws which can not stand the test of constitutionality is the norm across America today. It also appears that it will become a more United Practice by all states in the very near future.