New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials

In 1948 Lawton Chandler was appointed New Hampshire’s Tax Commissioner and served with the Tax Commission until he retired in 1972. Over the years he has served as a substitute member on the Board of Tax and Land Appeals.

The Tax Commission was established in 1911 by Legislature, and its members were appointed by Supreme Court and commissioned by the Governor and Council.

In the early years between 1911 and 1912, the Tax Commission was advised to raise assessments by revaluations in the State. They gave orders to Towns and Cities to implement equalization of property values. The New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials was legally organized by law and by the Tax Commission to help revaluate properties. In the Tax Commission’s records, the assessing officials were highly praised for accomplishing this task efficiently and finely. This was the beginning of the New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials.

As Tax Commissioner, Lawton Chandler was involved with making local assessors more aware of professionalism. His enthusiasm and desire to improve the assessing field was an inspiration to those around him. His goal was furthering education for local Selectmen/Assessing Officials and encouraging the State to take a more extensive hand in establishing local values.

In 1971, the Association established their first Lawton B. Chandler Award. This award is presented to an individual who shows outstanding service by contributing through involvement, and encouraging others to follow in Lawton B. Chandler’s footsteps.