Pope County Assessor Joins AAC Board

Dana Baker

Pope County assessor brings 19 years of experience to AAC Board of Directors.

Pope County Assessor Dana Baker knows the ins and outs of serving in a county government office, and she’s ready to use that knowledge in a new capacity on the AAC Board of Directors.

Baker, who replaces former AAC Board member and Columbia County Assessor Sandra Cawyer, worked in the Pope County courthouse for 19 years — seven years in the circuit clerk’s office and seven in the assessor’s office — before she was elected assessor in 2012. She began her first term in January 2013.

Baker is a life-long resident of Atkins in Pope County and is well acquainted with the county’s natural beauty. She enjoys taking weekend Jeep rides, wading and swimming in its creeks, and fishing in Lake Atkins.

Baker has deep family roots in Atkins. Her “unique family,” including her parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, live within 15 miles of each other. “You mess with one of us, you get the wrath of us,” she joked.

Baker has been married 25 years to her husband, Rodney, and has seven children. The couple also has spent about 20 years as foster parents to many children in Pope County.

Baker is the daughter of Oscar and Linda Freeman, who recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. She looks to them as a couple who takes pride in an honest day’s work.

“My dad is the hardest working man I have ever met,” she said.

He retired as a welding/shop maintenance foreman from Bibler Lumber Co. about 15 years ago, and now at 79, helps maintain Baker’s rental properties. He takes on any project she asks of him, Baker said.

Baker has applied her parents’ lessons to her position serving Pope County.

As assessor, she takes pride in helping taxpayers understand the process of assessing and taxes.

“I have learned one of the biggest obstacles is to get the taxpayer to fully understand from start to finish, valuing their property,” she said. “On most occasions, they may not be completely happy about what they have learned, but they will leave with a smile on their face.”

Showing residents that she understands their concerns is paramount to working in the assessor’s office.

“My coworkers and I try to go above and beyond to make our customers feel welcome and comfortable to ask any questions they may have,” she said. “We share our knowledge and understanding to handle each need.”

Baker has been recognized for her exemplary work in county government. She is the recipient of the 2019 Kenneth Eddy Memorial Award, and the Arkansas Chapter of the International Association of Assessing Officers 2019 Assessor of the Year Award.

She has served her community and her fellow assessors in other capacities, including five years as Atkins Planning Commission Chairman, and four years as Arkansas County Assessor’s Association board member and two years as association president.

As a new member of the AAC board, Baker is eager to address issues impacting her fellow assessors, as well as other county and district officials.

“I am looking forward to serving on the AAC Board,” she said. “Not only working with the fine elected officials currently serving, but being able to add my wealth of knowledge and experience to the pool of knowledge of my peers currently serving. I feel this board is the voice for each association and serving is a commitment to your association that you have their best interest at heart.”

Baker hopes to focus on areas that are impacting the future of local government and the citizens of Arkansas.

“We serve in an everchanging world,” she said. “Therefore, staying on the front end of technology, community interests, public welfare, and unification — finding common ground upon which to build — is not only important, but vital to me.”