Candidate: Dena R. Pittman

On June 25th, 2018, I was honored with the Appointment as Hendry County Property Appraiser by, then, Governor Rick Scott and elected in November 2018 by the residents of Hendry County. I started my career in 1989 in Palm Beach County and, after 17 years, I transferred to Hendry County Property Appraiser’s Office in 2006.  I became the Chief Deputy for Phillip Pelletier in 2010 and had the privilege to work under his leadership until he retired in March of 2018. During my career, I have worked in several departments within the Appraiser’s office and have the experience necessary to understand every aspect and role of the Property Appraiser. During my last two years in office, I have accomplished many things; it started with adding the Hammock Solar Plant on 2018’s tax roll, which added $102 million to our tax base. I have implemented new field devices to increase efficiency in data collection and have taken extra steps in reminding new homeowners to file homestead exemption. We have also added annual Aerial Photography that will assist in appraisal work, and provide a bird’s eye view immediately following a catastrophic event or a natural disaster. I have four new staff members that have completed the necessary courses to obtain their CFE (Certified Florida Evaluator) Designations. My customer service staff has attended workshops and trainings to serve you better. We are reaching out to local real estate agencies to provide further education on sales, capping and exemptions and how it impacts the property owner. On this journey, I have continued to develop working relationships with County and City Commissioners, local businesses, local builders, etc. I am a member of PAAF (Property Appraisers Association of Florida) and stay informed with legislation changes.

We have some very exciting things coming to Hendry County in the next few years, from the AirGlades Airport, more Solar Fields, the next phase of the C-43 Reservoir, the repair work on the Dike and the completion of widening SR 80.  All of these changes will be instrumental in the growth of jobs and housing.  My staff and I are aware of what is happening, and have the knowledge, experience and resources to assess these changes properly. We have a great team and we work well together to make sure we are creating a fair and equitable tax roll, capturing all aspects of development and providing professional customer service. I will continue to work hard for you and with our County leaders, and House and Senate Representatives to fight for what is best for our great County.

A little bit about my personal background, I was born and raised in West Palm Beach, and in 1993, I met the love of my life Mike Pittman and we married in 1996. At this time, Clewiston became my home. We have two daughters, both graduated from Clewiston High School and are both now attending UCF, one is studying in the medical field, and the other is studying hospitality and hotel management. I also have two incredible stepdaughters, two great sons-n-law and four wonderful grandchildren. I love Hendry County and the people I have the privilege to serve. I look forward to serving you for the next four years. Thank you for your support and remember to “Pick Pitt” for Property Appraiser in 2020.