Candidate: Jennifer Burnham Holtzclaw

Hello, Suwannee County! I am Jennifer Burnham Holtzclaw, a registered Republican, and I want to serve you as Suwannee County Tax Collector! If elected, I am committed to serve every constituent fairly, and be fiscally responsible with your tax dollars.

Born and raised in Suwannee County, I graduated from Suwannee High School in 1998. I married James “Mike” Holtzclaw in 2012, and we have 2 daughters, Aubree (9) and Ansleigh (7).

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Florida State University and an Associate of Arts degree from Lake City Community College (now Florida Gateway). After college, I worked in the Information Technology field as an IT Helpdesk Technician, serving as the first point of contact for hundreds of employees seeking technical assistance to successfully perform their job duties. My responsibilities included trouble-shooting computer systems, computer hardware and software, email, phones, and printers. I also assisted in the installation of servers and category 5 cable for a multi-story building. I then advanced my career as Assistant IT Director for a bank with 5 locations where I had similar duties, including on-site network support.

I later served as a Florida certified Math teacher for 9 years. I engaged my students by implementing every piece of technology available. I was very passionate about my students’ success, achieving the highest rating possible for multiple years from the Florida Department of Education.

After my husband and I had our first child, I became a full-time private music instructor and math tutor in my mother’s local retail music store of 43 years, and learned firsthand how to run a small business. Since then, I opened Live Oak Music Studio, where nearly 100 students are instructed each week.

I have had the desire to serve Suwannee County as Tax Collector since I was a child, having watched my father serve in this capacity. Growing up around the Tax Collector’s office as my father worked, I joke that my sister and I were the youngest - unpaid - employees, spending hours alphabetizing, stuffing and sealing tax bills for their dad.

The Tax Collector’s office has the privilege to assist families during some of the biggest milestones of their lives: accessing a newborn’s birth certificate, administering a driving test and issuing a teen’s first driver’s license, CDL’s, hunting/fishing licenses, concealed weapons permits, vehicle/boat registrations, and paying property taxes on their homes and businesses.

Suwannee County, as all counties in Florida, is experiencing rapid growth. I want to use my past experiences and knowledge to help move the Tax Collector’s office forward with modernized technology to speed up transactions and streamline services by reducing waiting times. I plan to use social media to inform the public about offered services and changes, implement a “Chat” feature on the website for additional communication, and other online tools to better serve the public.

Having worked in public and private sectors, I want to bring a fresh approach to “top-notch” customer service with a smile. I plan to recruit and retain competent, dedicated, and visionary employees to enhance stability. I promise to explore ways to modify the existing working environment that acknowledges and rewards employees for their commitment and contributions, as well as provide them with training opportunities that encourage professional development, growth and job satisfaction.

Language barriers have created longer wait times and I plan to recruit and train qualified bilingual staff to help alleviate this problem. By meeting with team members, current vendors, other tax collectors in the state, and county and state agencies, we can discuss priorities and how to collaboratively make improvements to your tax collector’s office. We must find innovative and efficient means to help better serve our citizens. I will do everything possible to expand the Tax Collector’s office to provide a more spacious and comfortable working and waiting area for staff and customers; and provide an environment more conducive for testing for driver’s licensing. I will also continue to serve Branford and Dowling Park in their communities.

I look forward to meeting each of you to earn your vote and trust. I would be humbled and honored to serve you as your next Tax Collector, and promise to serve you with integrity, honesty, and respect. I promise to always be accessible, keeping my door open to serve each of you. Please don’t hesitate to contact me by phone at 386-965-0027, or by email at jennifer.b.holtzclaw@gmail.com. To learn more about me, follow me on Facebook and Instagram.