The current Putnam County tax collector, Linda Myers, is not seeking re-election this year. Three Republicans qualified for the race: Brenda Bridges, Brittany Goodson, and Sydney Myers. As no Democrats or other candidates qualified for the race, the August Republican primary will be open to all voters.
News4Jax sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically by party and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4Jax staff.
Brenda Bridges
Occupation: Deputy Tax Collector, serving with Putnam County Tax Collector since 2012.
Age: 62
Family: Husband Terry Bridges - deceased / Two children, daughter Christina & son York / Four beautiful grandchildren, Kaden, Noelle, Amelia and Nash.
Education: B.S. Flagler College, Public Administration / Certified Florida Collector Assistant, Florida Department of Revenue / Certified Executive Leader, Florida Association of Tax Collectors / Valencia College
Political experience: ‘This is first bid for office. Twenty three (23) years experience in local government, eleven (11) years Planning & Development Services (Zoning Administrator), twelve (12) years Putnam County Tax Collector Office - Public Service - front facing contact for the public & liaison to Elected Officials. I work within and understand the political arena.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1) Accountability - Experience and understanding of the laws regulating the day-to-day operations. Internal controls, Audits and transparency. 2) Integrity / Experience - this position is a constitutional officer, responsible for the operations of a Fee-based office - this is unique and requires understanding of the governing statutes for all Agencies that we represent, local and state. 3) Customer-Service - continual review of innovative solutions for reducing wait times and continual education for staff to assist with the legal requirements that allow us to provide the required protection of the citizens assets.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
As the only candidate with proven leadership in a Florida Tax Collector Office and Certified by the Department of Revenue as a Certified Florida Collector Assistant, Experience Matters! Tax Dollars are serious business and I can hit the ground running day one, I understand the duties and responsibilities of an Office of Public Trust and I am committed and dedicated to provide the Exceptional Customer Service that our citizens expect and deserve. Previous owner of private business (2) that brings experience and understanding of customer service.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
A commitment to excellence and exceeding expectations as part of an Amazing Team that is proud to serve the citizens of Putnam County and of the State of Florida.
Campaign website: None - prefer to talk face to face with neighbors, voters and customers
Campaign social media: Email electbridges2024@gmail.com
Brittany Goodson
Occupation: I am a previous Chief Financial and Operations Officer. I currently work for a University evaluating bachelor-level students in business courses.
Age: (No response)
Family: My husband and I have a 15-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter.
Education: I have a Masters degree in Business Administration.
Political experience: I do not have previous political experience.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
I plan to implement strong internal controls to ensure your tax dollars are being appropriately utilized and distributed. I will also adjust the investment strategy to maximize the return on investments throughout the fiscal year. I want to enhance the culture in the office and customer service to provide a friendly, helpful, and positive environment. Finally, I want to collaborate with other local agencies to create solutions that provide the best outcome for you.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I bring the most diverse experience and formal education. As a lifelong resident, I care about the residents of Putnam County and will listen to their needs. I will then put a plan in place to resolve any issues or obstacles they face.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I hope to be remembered for understanding the residents’ needs and taking action to resolve issues and overcome obstacles.
Campaign website: www.votegoodsontaxcollector.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
Sydney Myers
Occupation: For six years now, I’ve worked from home for a tax defense law firm out of Jacksonville, Florida. We work directly with clients who owe the IRS taxes. After reviewing their individual case, we help citizens reduce the taxes they owe however possible if they qualify. In this role, I oversee and coordinate tax professionals, accountants, and lawyers across the nation to get the job done.
Age: 29
Family: I come from a military family that traveled the world with my dad wherever he got stationed. When he left the military, it brought me to Putnam County, and I have been here since. I now have a family of my own being raised in this community and wouldn’t change this small-town life for anything.
Education: After graduating high school, I followed my family to Crescent City, Florida where my father opened up his own business. From there I worked with him and shortly after started working at the tax defense law firm in Jacksonville, Florida. With a good and steady career, I focused on gaining knowledge of my job and how I could best save citizens money from the IRS and I believe this experience is a great supplement to the education I didn’t pursue. I do plan to go back to college once elected to further my training in administration.
Political experience: I have no experience in politics but what I do have experience in is doing what is right for those I am serving. Decisions made by me as the Tax Collector will be based off of serving the citizens with integrity, trust and doing it accurately.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
The top 3 issues are face come from what I’ve heard throughout my campaign as well as one I’ve seen first hand. Through campaigning, I constantly hear of citizens not being properly informed because they lack the information needed to make informed decisions. What I’ve noticed is currently, our Tax Collector department makes posts to social media but that’s about it. We can expand this and offer more ways to get information into the hands of the citizens of Putnam County
Another issue that I have had brought up to me is the commission on Putnam County School Board’s $300 million bond. The current Tax Collector and one of my opponents has stated they will charge this commission as Florida statute 192.091 states “The tax collectors of the several counties of the state shall be entitled to receive, ..., the following commissions:”. This statute shows they have the right to make this decision, however it does not say they have to take these commissions and furthermore, in the same chapter, there is a statute 192.102 that states in subsection 2, “Nothing contained herein shall be construed to abrogate any law providing a salary for the tax collector OR require the tax collector to accept the benefits of this section.” In addressing this, I plan to stop all collections of this commission until a new AG opinion is released on it. There was previously an AG opinion, 073-470, released on it in December of 1973 that states “Fees provided for the county assessor or tax collector under 192.091, F. S., may be waived by the board of county commissioners only with the concurrence of the official involved.” One of the biggest issues with this commission being collected currently is it is not in the best interest of the citizens of Putnam County. If it is a commission that does not have to be collected, why is the tax collector choosing for all citizens to be responsible for it? On top of that, the Tax Collector’s office started charging these commissions without doing their due diligence and researching it prior to implementing it. Once elected, I will stop the commission, file to get an updated AG opinion on this commission and not resume the commission until directed otherwise from Florida’s AG.
A final issue that I have come across has come from attending the school board’s bond oversight committee meetings and seeing firsthand what was being done wrong. In a bond oversight committee meeting, the Tax Collector and Deputy Tax Collector that is currently running against me presented the 192.091 statute and why they’d charge the commission. In this, both employees of the Tax Collector’s office stated they’d keep charging the commission. The CFO of the school district, commented on them charging the commission incorrectly and the Tax Collector denied it multiple times. At the next bond oversight committee meeting, we found out within a week the Tax Collector had issued over a $50,000 refund to the school district for incorrectly charging them. A Tax Collector is in charge of taxing all taxpayers in the County. When one tried to say they were being incorrectly charged, it was shut down and that taxpayer had to push to get the chance to prove they were wrongly charged. How many others are being incorrectly charged in Putnam County and simply don’t know because they don’t check or even know how to check? I plan to put better processes in place to ensure that taxpayers are correctly paying only what they owe and not a cent more. We can do better for fiscal transparency, and it starts from the top of the Tax Collector’s office and being willing to know that a mistake has been made.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I can help the voters by providing the accuracy, trust, and integrity that comes along with the position. Any elected official should do what’s best for those who put elected them and one of my opponents has already stated in a bond oversight committee meeting they’d do otherwise. This will allow me to help voters by ensuring they’re not only getting what is best for them, but they’re only paying what they owe, not anything more.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
When I am done serving as the Tax Collector, I’d hope to be remembered for the progress we made as an office. We inform our citizens of what all the Tax Collector does, as well as any exemptions they may qualify for. We also only collect from citizens what is owed through statute. Not based off of our interpretations of statutes but what the Florida AG says is the interpretation if there ever is a disputed statute. I want my Tax Collector’s office to be remembered for the Accuracy, Trust, and Integrity provided to them during my tenure as the Putnam County Tax Collector.
Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/ElectSydneyMyers
Campaign social media: Facebook