Nominee Kristin Fraser outlines tax-adjudication experience at Ways and Means hearing

Kristin Fraser, the governor’s nominee for the Board of Tax Appeals, appeared Jan. 29 before the Washington Senate Ways and Means Committee for a brief confirmation hearing and was sworn to testify under Senate Rule 69.

Fraser told the committee she spent three decades on the nonpartisan staff of the state House of Representatives as fiscal counsel to appropriations and capital budget committees and has taught Washington State constitutional law at Seattle University School of Law and the University of Washington School of Law. She described her recent service on the Board of Tax Appeals, where she has adjudicated property and excise tax appeals and said the board is working on procedures to speed residential reviews.

Fraser said that handling pro se litigants “is always a question of balancing expeditious processing of the appeal with a thorough explanation,” and described a priority of ensuring appellants “feel heard and respected.” Committee members asked several clarifying questions but took no final action; the chair said the committee will vote on the nomination at a future meeting.

The hearing record includes inconsistent spellings of the nominee’s name in the transcript; the committee administered the oath and proceeded with testimonial questions without objection.