Of the five officers localities in Virginia are constitutionally required to elect, Commissioner of the Revenue is one of the least widely understood. Under state code, this important position oversees assessments, personal property taxes and real estate taxes, among other duties. As an agent mandated by the state but operating within the county, the position carries out an important bridging function between the two levels of governance.
Mark Bissoon.
In Caroline, current Commissioner of the Revenue Sharon Carter is retiring at the end of her term, and only one citizen, Mark Bissoon, registered to run for the office.
Bissoon, 42, has been a resident of Caroline County since a young age, after his family relocated to Virginia from Brooklyn, N.Y. A “proud graduate of Caroline High School,” he has worked in a variety of fields, with positions ranging from food service and telecommunications work to jobs with A. P. Hill, PepsiCo, and Circuit City.
In 2002, he acquired his real estate license, and after stints with Pitts & Manns Realty and Caroline Realty he set up shop as the principal of American Allstar Realty in Bowling Green.
In 2012 he was appointed to Bowling Green Town Council to fulfill the unexpired term of Glen Lanford, a seat he held for two years until stepping down in December 2014.
Outside of his work, Bissoon is a member of the local Kilwinning Crosse lodge and attends Bowling Green Baptist.
This election represents Bissoon’s first time running for public office, a choice that he said “boils down to supporting my family,” which includes a wife and three children.
When asked about his qualifications for the position, he cited his project management, personnel management and people skills, as well as his background in the local real estate market.
“That’s probably going to be my strongest suit—knowing the market,” he said.
Overall, he said, as Commissioner of the Revenue he would focus on expansion of that real estate market and customer service, but in general, any efforts he engaged in would be a continuation of the “well-oiled machine” put in place under Carter.
“I’m not coming in to upset the apple cart,” he said. “I’d like to continue everything already in motion, working productively with everyone.”