Andrew Cook and Michael G. Smith are competing for the only contested seat on the Collin Central Appraisal District Board of Directors in the Nov. 3 election.

Place 2 is the sole competitive race among three CCAD board seats on the ballot. Randal Shinn is running unopposed for Place 1, and Joe Corcoran is unopposed for Place 3, according to the Prosper Celina Journal. The winner takes office Jan. 1, 2027, for a four-year term.

The seat matters to Allen homeowners. The Collin Central Appraisal District (CCAD) appraises roughly 449,500 property accounts across 76 taxing jurisdictions in Collin County, including every home in Allen.

Countywide certified taxable values hit $280.17 billion this year, up 4.43%, with $7.7 billion in new property added to the rolls.

The average home value dipped from $603,190 in 2025 to $588,119 in 2026, the Prosper Celina Journal reported.

The board does not set individual property values or tax rates. Under the Texas Property Tax Code, its duties include hiring the chief appraiser, currently Marty Wright, appointing the Appraisal Review Board that hears homeowner protests, and adopting the district's annual operating budget and biennial reappraisal plan, according to the CCAD website.

The CCAD's 2026 proposed operating budget totals $33.9 million.

Cook, a real estate consultant, has served on the CCAD board since 2024. He currently holds the Place 3 seat but chose to run for Place 2, Community Impact reported.

He filed Aug. 4 and paid a $400 filing fee. The Prosper Celina Journal reported that Cook said in a Community Impact Q&A that he wants to provide "continuity while strengthening oversight, transparency, and accountability as Collin County continues growing."

Smith is a certified public accountant who serves as president of a tourism business with more than 50 employees, according to his campaign website.

He has lived in Collin County for more than nine years. Smith said he plans to focus on measurable results including appraisal accuracy, protest and litigation trends, and taxpayer service, the Prosper Celina Journal reported.

November will mark only the second time Collin County voters can directly elect appraisal board members.

A 2023 state law, Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), created three at-large elected seats on appraisal district boards in counties with populations above 75,000. In 2024, all three seats went uncontested, and the election was canceled. Candidates appear on the ballot without party affiliation.

Early voting runs through Friday, Oct. 30. Collin County residents can vote at more than 40 polling locations during early voting and at more than 90 locations on Election Day, according to Community Impact.

Polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters can find polling locations through the Collin County Elections office at (972) 547-1990.