Candidate: A. Michael Hickox

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Nassau County Property Appraiser, it truly is and has been an honor and a privilege.  During the last seven years I have worked hard to run the office in a professional and efficient way.  Through the use of technology and improved efficiencies, our employees are more productive, and the public is better served.  We have worked with other Constitutional Officers within the County to consolidate services which has saved taxer payer money.  County GIS mapping services are now in one location with more map layers available to the public.  We have taken over 911 addressing which helped the Sheriff eliminate his GIS department. Through interlocal agreements we are providing GIS mapping services to all incorporated and unincorporated areas of the County.  With improved mass appraisal modeling we have reduced significantly the number of VAB petitions being filed in protest of property values, which saves tax payer money. Even with the tremendous growth the County is experiencing, we have kept our budget low and maintained the same or fewer full-time employees.  We have updated our website to make it ADA compliant and mobile friendly.  Most recently we have implemented a desk top review process which satisfies our Statutory obligations of the five year audit requirements and cuts the review process from 20 minutes to 8 minutes on average.  

For those of you who do not know me, I am a native of Nassau County, who prior to being elected in 2012, spent 35 years as a State Certified Appraiser and Real Estate Broker.  I received my certification in 1992 and have personally appraised over 10,000 properties in Nassau County as a Fee Appraiser.  Since certification in 1992, I have taken over 50 appraisal courses for continuing education and professional development focusing on the science of mass appraising in recent years. During my professional career, I have had the honor of serving in the following capacities:

• Past President of the Florida Association of Property Appraiser’s.
• Director for the Nassau County Education Foundation.
• Past District Vice President of Florida Association of Realtors.
• Past President of local Association of Realtors, where during my term the board won two distinguished awards “The Fla Assoc of Realtors Board Achievement Award” and the “George Linville Education Award”.
• Past President of the Nassau County Multiple Listing Service.
• Past Chairman of Professional Standards Committee where I Chaired Arbitration and Mediation Hearings for the local Association of Realtors which kept disputes out of the court system.
• Past Director Florida Association of Realtors, local Association of Realtors, Chamber of Commerce, and Kiwanis Club
• Real Estate and Appraisal Instructor for the local Association of Realtors for over 20 years.

As property appraiser I am committed to providing fair and equitable assessments and to being open and transparent while serving the citizens of Nassau County.  I thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to serving you for another term.