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Stephen
Valerie Stephen is one of four Republican candidates running for Erath County Tax Assessor Collector (TAC) alongside a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the March 5 primary election. If elected, she wants to make sure the taxpayers are effectively taken care of and work to modernize the office.
Stephen has deep roots in Erath County, but it’s her love of people that prompted her to run for the office of Tax Assessor Collector.
For the past three years, Stephen has worked in the Erath County Tax Office, as a motor vehicle clerk.
When she found out that the current Tax Assessor Collector, Jennifer Carey, was retiring and not seeking another term, Stephen began researching what it would take to seek the position, about a year ago.
“I understand the duties, I feel like it was a really great opportunity to step up and grow,” she said.
Stephen’s educational background includes graduating from Stephenville High School in 2006 and obtaining her massage therapy and cosmetology licenses.
Prior to working in the tax office, Stephen spent 14 years as a hairstylist, owning and operating two businesses – Tangles Salon and Brush and Blush. Stephen said the process of owning and operating her own businesses has taught her how to work with others and communicate with people, both assets in the office of TAC.
If elected into the office, Stephen said she wants to make it a priority to make sure that tax office and motor vehicle employees are all cross-trained so they can better assist citizens in peak seasons.
“There are new efficiencies in that building that we need to learn how to use,” she said, such as what processes can be handled in the drivethru.
“I want to see modernizing within the office to make things more efficient to the consumer,” she said. “I think I have a lot of community knowledge just based on experiences I’ve had.”
Stephen prides herself of having deep roots to the communities inside of the county and the county itself since she is part of the fifth generation for her family in Erath County and her family has owned Stephen’s Health Care for nearly 40 years.
Both of Stephen’s parents, Dennis Woods and Wanda Greer, are from Dublin, and she has been married to her high school sweetheart Dustin Stephen for almost 14 years. They have three kids – Huxley, 12, Knoxly, 9, and Willow 7.
“We are a blended family andsupportbothStephenville and Huckabay ISDs,” Stephen said.
She is also a Chapter member of the Daughter of the Republic of Texas.
When not working, she enjoys hanging out with her family at the lake during the summertime.
“If I’m elected, I’m looking forward to meeting the people I don’t know. We are growing exponentially in this county and I enjoy being with people,” Stephen said.