Candidate: Linda Myers

It has been my honor and privilege to serve our community as your Tax Collector for the past eight years.  To the hundreds of friends and supporters in Putnam County who signed petitions for my name to appear on the ballot to continue to serve as your Tax Collector, I thank you for your support and confidence.  The 30 years of customer service experience in the ownership and operation of the Palatka Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins store prepared me to effectively serve you in your Tax Collector Office.  This customer service experience, coupled with my financial and accounting background as a Certified Public Accountant, provides me a unique skill set to work with your Tax Collector Team serving our customers with continual improvement of your experience at our offices.  During this time, we have streamlined the check-in system, increased customer service staffing through a reduction in management and introduced other State Services for our customer's convenience.  The addition of Birth Certificate Records in the Interlachen and Crescent City Offices minimized travel to the Palatka Health Department for those services.  The addition of Concealed Weapon Permitting in the Palatka Office is valued by many of our citizens.  This service is scheduled to start in the Crescent City Office this year (April start-up was delayed due to COVID-19).  Through our comment cards, our customers have shared their suggestions for the better operation of our office.  You have told me: value your time, provide shorter wait times and knowledgeable staff to assist you with patience and respect.  My goal as your Tax Collector is to continue to meet those needs while working to bring more State Services to your Tax Collector Offices for an efficient One Stop Experience.

I have had the pleasure of working with Putnam 5th Graders assisting them with the design and production of their own specialty license tags--"Kids Tag Art".  This program has involved over 1000 students in 9 elementary schools and raised over $12,000 for their schools.  Your Tax Collector Office is pleased to have initiated and sponsored this great program in cooperation with Putnam County Schools. 

I am especially proud to be part of your Tax Collector Team during these unprecedented times when the TCTeam continued to provide essential services to our customers in the Crescent City and  Palatka offices during the "Safer at Home" State Orders; both of these offices are currently serving our Putnam County customers in a safe manner, appointments are encouraged. The Interlachen Office will be opening when it is safe to operate in the smaller space of that office.

I have had the opportunity to be significantly involved in professional, civic and charitable organizations in the 44 years I have lived in Putnam County, working with many of you  to make Putnam a Better Place to work, play and raise our families.  Some of my major civic accomplishments during this time are recognition by the Chamber of Commerce as "Small Business of the Year" and to serve as the Chamber President, recipient of the Northeast Florida Regional Leadership Award, election to serve our County as County Commissioner (1998-2006) and in 2010 the privilege to escort 24 World War II Veterans from Putnam County to Washington D.C. as part of an Honor Air Flight, sponsored by the Sunrise Rotary Club.  I have enjoyed serving many charitable organizations making a difference in our community, along-side many of you and sharing leadership roles in the March of Dimes, United Way, Lee Conlee House Domestic Violence Shelter, the Christian Service Centers, First Presbyterian Church and I am appreciative of the support of this community in our collective endeavors.

I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend the University of Florida receiving both an undergraduate degree and a Masters in Accounting Degree.  It is a pleasure to call Putnam home with my husband Vernon Myers, my best friend.  We enjoy our six wonderful children and are blessed with eight granddaughters and four grandsons and a loving community.

With your continued support and vote, I will have the honor to continue serving you and our community as your Tax Collector.  As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me at KeepLindaOurTaxCollector@gmail.com.