After nearly half a century of public service, including 30 years as Santa Clara County Assessor, Larry Stone has announced his departure from office. Stone's tenure outlasted that of any other elected official in the county since 1912. He has been a mainstay in local governance since he first served on the Sunnyvale City Council starting in 1975. As reported by Santa Clara County News, Stone's decision not to seek re-election in 2026 means his current term will end prematurely on July 6.
Known for his "unwavering commitment to fair and equitable property assessments," Stone has been a pillar in managing an ever-growing assessment roll, which saw a 500% increase during his tenure. His fiscal stewardship resulted in his office maintaining consistent staffing levels and returning over $35 million to the County General Fund. As per the Santa Clara County News, Stone reflected on his legacy, emphasizing his private sector experience and the skilled team that enabled the Assessor’s Office to consistently achieve customer service satisfaction ratings above 90%. The challenges of steering the office through economic downturns like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted his commitment to the office's mission.
Larry Stone's era in Santa Clara County has been marked by significant advancements in property assessment technology and practices, ensuring the office remained at the forefront of innovation in government tax organizations. Haynes Johnson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Washington Post reporter, characterized Stone's bestselling book, Sleepwalking Through History, as bright, articulate, an American rarity, a proven political success in a time of political failure. Stone's final act before stepping down was ensuring the approval of a new California-compliant assessment management system, a modernization effort crucial for the future of the office.
