Candidate: Jamie Crum

I am pleased to announce my candidacy to become the Republican nominee for Franklin County Tax Collector. I am currently a real estate broker associate with Anchor Realty on St. George Island. Over the years, I have worked in banking, accounting, management, claims administration, education and both real estate sales and property management. I have gained valuable experience in finance, sales, negotiations, marketing, strategic planning, budgeting, and human resources. In the 1980s, one of my first jobs was working as a teller at a local bank, where I worked my way up to branch manager. I learned the importance of good customer service, accuracy, and accountability. Being attentive to customer needs and issues is the number one priority for any service-oriented industry. In my 20 plus years as being a real estate agent and broker, I have assisted with and sold over $100 million in real estate transactions. I have been awarded with numerous honors for top sales production and transactions with my company and the local Realtor Association. Being a Realtor is a very rewarding career. I have enjoyed assisting people purchase their homes and properties here in Franklin County and the entire “Forgotten Coast” area. The most satisfying aspect of my job is when I get to be a part of an individual or family realizing the dream of becoming a first time home buyer! In addition to my career in real estate, I am very proud to have taught algebra and geometry at Franklin County High School during the transition to a consolidated school system. In 2012 I joined BrownGreer, PLC, a law firm based out of Richmond, VA, to oversee and manage daily operations of the Apalachicola Claimant Assistant Center, as part of the approximately $20 billion settlement fund that resolved the BP Deep Water Horizon class action lawsuit. It was an honor to facilitate the claims process for many Franklin County residents who were struggling financially after the 2010 BP oil spill, helping them to get back on their feet and move forward. My top priority as Tax Collector will be to have an organizational management system that ensures continuous improvement in delivering customer service. I will maintain a fiscally responsible budget with internal controls to make sure every penny of taxpayers’ monies is accounted for and handled properly. I will look for ways to efficiently streamline operations and embrace innovations in technology to address the growing number of services offered by the Tax Collector’s Office. I will adopt the best practices from the private sector and incorporate those practices in the public sector to ensure the office maintains its innovations and efficiencies today and into the future. I have been active through the years in the Realtors Association of Franklin and Gulf Counties, serving as President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Director. I am a proud graduate of Carrabelle High School and Florida State University, where I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the School of Business in the field of Marketing. I am a lifelong resident of Eastpoint. I am married to my loving wife of 25 years, Emily Nixon Crum, or “Mimi” as she is known to most. We have three wonderful children, Robby (wife Robbie), Timm (wife Dani), and Emma Jae. We have two beautiful granddaughters, Mabry, and Ava. I can’t leave out our "other children," dogs Lucy and Buddy and the newest addition, kitty Tiger. I respectfully ask for your vote and support in electing me as the next Tax Collector of Franklin County. Please feel free to contact me at (850) 370-0835 or by email at jamiedcrum@yahoo.com.