Two Candidates Enter Race for Humboldt County Assessor After Incumbent Retires

Howard LaHaie's decision to retire as Humboldt County Assessor has set off a succession contest, with two candidates formally entering the race to claim the elected office he is vacating.

Audrey Hanks, the county's current deputy assessor-valuation, is among those who have filed for the position. Her role as LaHaie's deputy places her among the most familiar with the office's day-to-day responsibilities, which include overseeing property valuations that directly affect tax assessments across Humboldt County.

The assessor's office carries significant weight for county finances and property owners alike. The elected official who holds the position is responsible for determining assessed values on real and personal property, work that feeds directly into local tax revenue and affects residents, businesses, and agricultural landholders throughout the county.

LaHaie's retirement opens a seat that had been occupied by an experienced incumbent, and the identity of his successor will shape how the office is administered in the years ahead. The race drew its second candidate alongside Hanks, though that individual was not identified in available reporting as of March 13, 2026, when the contest was first publicly announced.

The election cycle will give Humboldt County voters their first opportunity in some time to choose a new assessor from an open field, rather than evaluating a sitting officeholder seeking re-election.