WINDHAM – David Sawyer, Windham’s tax assessor, has been named Maine Assessor of the Year.

The Maine Association of Assessing Officers awarded Sawyer with the honor at its annual fall conference in Phippsburg earlier this month. It is the second time the association has given the award, which recognizes “leadership, integrity and professionalism,” and is selected based on feedback from municipal officials across the state.

According to Rick Mace, the president of the association and the assessor for the town of York, Sawyer is a certified instructor who has trained many municipal assessors across the state. Sawyer has also successfully promoted the use of a geographic information system (GIS) in assessing, Mace said.

“He was a pioneer in the assessing world in Maine,” Mace said. “He’s just been a true professional, well respected in the communities that he’s worked, not just from his peers, but the taxpayers. He’s just someone that’s completely dedicated to the assessing way of life.”

Sawyer grew up in Connecticut and received a degree in biology from the University of Connecticut. He moved to Maine in 1975, and worked at Maine Medical Center as a technician in a kidney dialysis center before becoming a real estate broker. In 1983, he was hired as assessor for the town of New Gloucester. Sawyer has served as assessor for the towns of Gray and Gorham, as well. In 2004, Sawyer was hired by the town of Windham.

Sawyer has also served as president of the Maine Chapter of the International Association of Assessing Officer as well as the Maine Association of Assessing Officers. Sawyer said he has stayed in the field of assessing for so long because he finds it varied and interesting.

“It’s a good job,” he said. “We have a lot of interaction with the public and we do a lot of analysis and those kinds of things that I really like to do. You have to know a little bit about a lot of things, let’s put it that way. It suits me.”

Phyllis Moss, Windham’s assistant town manager, said that Sawyer’s honor was “well deserved.”

“Dave has worked hard for many years here,” she said. “We’re thrilled.”

Mace said that Sawyer exemplifies the best qualities of the Maine assessing community.

“He’s all about assessing and promoting the profession and making sure that assessors are trained properly and that its all about fairness and equity,” Mace said. “That’s what he has always stressed all his career.”

David Sawyer

WINDHAM – David Sawyer, Windham’s tax assessor, has been named Maine Assessor of the Year.

The Maine Association of Assessing Officers awarded Sawyer with the honor at its annual fall conference in Phippsburg earlier this month. It is the second time the association has given the award, which recognizes “leadership, integrity and professionalism,” and is selected based on feedback from municipal officials across the state.

According to Rick Mace, the president of the association and the assessor for the town of York, Sawyer is a certified instructor who has trained many municipal assessors across the state. Sawyer has also successfully promoted the use of a geographic information system (GIS) in assessing, Mace said.

“He was a pioneer in the assessing world in Maine,” Mace said. “He’s just been a true professional, well respected in the communities that he’s worked, not just from his peers, but the taxpayers. He’s just someone that’s completely dedicated to the assessing way of life.”

Sawyer grew up in Connecticut and received a degree in biology from the University of Connecticut. He moved to Maine in 1975, and worked at Maine Medical Center as a technician in a kidney dialysis center before becoming a real estate broker. In 1983, he was hired as assessor for the town of New Gloucester. Sawyer has served as assessor for the towns of Gray and Gorham, as well. In 2004, Sawyer was hired by the town of Windham.

Sawyer has also served as president of the Maine Chapter of the International Association of Assessing Officer as well as the Maine Association of Assessing Officers. Sawyer said he has stayed in the field of assessing for so long because he finds it varied and interesting.

“It’s a good job,” he said. “We have a lot of interaction with the public and we do a lot of analysis and those kinds of things that I really like to do. You have to know a little bit about a lot of things, let’s put it that way. It suits me.”

Phyllis Moss, Windham’s assistant town manager, said that Sawyer’s honor was “well deserved.”

“Dave has worked hard for many years here,” she said. “We’re thrilled.”

Mace said that Sawyer exemplifies the best qualities of the Maine assessing community.

“He’s all about assessing and promoting the profession and making sure that assessors are trained properly and that its all about fairness and equity,” Mace said. “That’s what he has always stressed all his career.”

David Sawyer