Susan Draper has been the commissioner of the revenue for a year, but it finally feels official following her first election.

“It was a busy year, but it was a good year,” said Draper, who was appointed a year ago to fill the shoes of Thomas Hazelwood, who retired.

Draper had served as Hazelwood’s chief deputy commissioner since 2007. She joined the office in 2006 as a business auditor after filling the same position in Chesapeake’s Commissioner of the Revenue office for more than four years.

“When Thomas had an opening here, three miles from my house, I applied,” she said.

Following graduation from Forest Glen High School, Draper began her career as a machinist at the Newport News Shipyard, having gone through the Apprentice School. But 15 years in, she realized she didn’t still want to do that work as she got older.

She attended Old Dominion University during the evenings while continuing to work during the day. Her mother, Jean Draper, watched her young son while she was at class.

“I couldn’t have done it without her,” Draper said of her mother, who died in September. “I doubt I would have put him with a sitter at night.”

Draper graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, having majored in accounting. She became a Certified Public Accountant but didn’t like the hours during tax season.

That’s when she applied to the Chesapeake commissioner’s office.

“I always liked working with numbers,” Draper said.

The commissioner of the revenue, one of the five elected constitutional offices, assesses personal property for tax purposes, including motor vehicles, boats, recreational vehicles and airplanes.

Draper’s office also assesses business property, machinery and tools, business licenses, meals, lodging and admissions taxes. Those taxes are collected by the treasurer, while the rates are set by City Council, allowing for a separation of powers.

“We try to make sure they have a fair assessment,” Draper said. “I don’t want anybody to pay a dollar more than they have to.”

The office also can assist in preparing state tax returns and act as a liaison with the state for state tax issues, which are little-known abilities of the office, Draper said.

Draper manages 11 full-time and two part-time positions in two offices, including a satellite office at the North Suffolk Library. She said her first priority, now that she is able, is to fill vacant positions.

“I couldn’t be here without all of y’all,” she told her staff Wednesday, shortly after being sworn in.

She said she appreciates her family, as well as the two commissioners for whom she has worked.

“Ray Conner (the Chesapeake commissioner) and Thomas (Hazelwood) were both great mentors to me,” she said.