Lloyd Hara ahead in tight King County assessor contest

Lloyd Hara was leading in a hotly contested race for King County assessor, based on partial returns Tuesday night.

Hara, a former King County auditor, had about one-third of the ballots counted so far, closely pursued by real-estate investor Robert Rosenberger, who had 29 percent of the vote. Bellevue appraiser Graham Albertini was trailing with about 20 percent.

The highest vote-getter wins the race.

All three mounted campaigns to complete the two years remaining in the term of former assessor Scott Noble. Noble resigned the day before his sentencing for causing a head-on collision while intoxicated. There wasn't enough time to hold a primary election for his vacated seat, resulting in Tuesday's special election.

The winner will oversee a $20 million King County agency that establishes property values, sends out property-tax bills and administers property-tax-relief programs.

Hara, 69, is finishing his term as a Port of Seattle commissioner. His campaign touted his management experience as former treasurer for Seattle and King County auditor.

Last week Hara apologized to his supporters after The Seattle Times reported that he didn't have a city permit for an added apartment in his Queen Anne home and hadn't reported the rental income in 2004 when he ran for Port commissioner.

Rosenberger, 57, is a real-estate investor who worked in the assessor's office as an appraiser from the mid-1980s until last year. He made a run for assessor in 1991 and 1992.

Albertini, 46, of Bellevue, is a licensed real-estate appraiser

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com