Oklahoma County voters head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, to choose between Republican incumbent Larry Stein and Democrat John Gibbons for county assessor. Polls close at 7 p.m.

The office oversees property valuations for about 360,000 accounts worth a combined $109 billion, according to The Oklahoman. With a staff of 80, the assessor lists, appraises and assesses real and personal property for taxation.

How that work gets done is the central fight.

Stein, 70, who lives in Edmond, has held the office since 2019 and touts back-to-back perfect scores on the Oklahoma Tax Commission's annual performance audit in 2025 and 2026, The Oklahoman reported. He won the June 16 Republican primary over challenger Ferlin Kearns with more than 75% of the vote.

Gibbons, 64, a Nichols Hills resident described by NonDoc as a 25-year veteran of the mortgage banking industry, had no Democratic primary opponent. He is also a homebuilder, according to The Oklahoman.

Property assessments divide the candidates

Gibbons wants more hands-on inspections. He told The Oklahoman that a drive-by photo or computer model cannot spot a cracked foundation or a failing roof, and that values "drift away from reality" when the office relies on those methods.

Stein said his employees already visit each property in person once every four years, as state law requires. He said Gibbons' proposals would require roughly 500 new employees and a $60 million budget increase, The Oklahoman reported.

At an Oct. 19 candidate forum co-hosted by NonDoc and News 9, the two clashed directly. Gibbons cited his own home renovation as an example, saying the assessor's office valued his house based on an exterior photo while a dumpster was still in the yard.

NonDoc later fact-checked Gibbons' claim that the office valued his home at $1 million and rated it false. The assessed market value was roughly $744,000 in 2026, NonDoc reported. Gibbons said he misspoke and meant to reference a comparable nearby sale.

Stein, in turn, noted his office had reduced the value of Gibbons' home to $88,325 during the renovation, saving Gibbons about $10,000 in property taxes. NonDoc rated that claim true.

Budget and salary also at issue

Gibbons questioned a 43% growth in the assessor's office budget, from $7 million to $10 million, since Stein took office. Stein said he operates with 50 fewer employees than state workload guidelines recommend, The Oklahoman reported.

Gibbons also criticized Stein for voting to raise his own salary from $105,000 to $135,000. Stein said county officer salaries are set by state statute and calculated based on population and workload, according to The Oklahoman.

How to vote and track results

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Oklahoma law requires voters to show proof of identity, according to the State Election Board. Acceptable forms include a valid photo ID from the state, federal or tribal government; a free voter identification card from the County Election Board; or a signed affidavit with a provisional ballot.

Voters can confirm their polling place through the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.html.

Election results will be posted on the State Election Board's 2026 results page after polls close.