JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Each candidates' party affiliation is listed on the ballot, but Jacksonville holds unitary elections, so Duval County registered voters of any party can vote for any candidate.
Candidates for Duval County tax collector |
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News4Jax asks each candidate for office a uniform set of questions hoping to get beyond campaign statements or media filters to help voters decide which candidate they will support. Below are the candidates' verbatim responses.
John Crescimbeni
Party affiliation: Democrat
Age: 61
Candidate's family: Married
Occupation: Consultant
Education: BS degree (triple major with honors) from Jacksonville University
Political experience: City Councilman: 1991-1999; 2008-Present (I have never missed a regular City Council meeting)
What do you see as the top three issues in this race?
1. Shorten customer wait times at all ten (10) Tax Collector branch locations.
2. Establish more convenient hours (including evenings and Saturdays at select locations).
3. Provide friendly and courteous service to EVERY customer!
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I am a former licensed franchisee of Hickory Farms and the only candidate with 37 years of experience providing premium customer service and operating multiple store locations. Combined with my 18 plus years of service on the City Council (where I earned the reputation of being the Taxpayer's Watchdog at City Hall by cutting wasteful spending), I am the perfect choice for Tax Collector.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Transforming the entire Duval County Tax Collector operation to a national model for accuracy, efficiency and most importantly - providing friendly, courteous service to every customer.
Campaign website: www.johnfortaxcollector.com
Social media: Facebook | Twitter
Jim Overton
Party affiliation: Republican
Age: 66
Candidate's family: Connie, Sarah, David & Addie, William
Occupation: Incumbent Tax Collector
Education: BS in Business Adminstration, Master's in Public Administration
Political experience: City Council and Council President, Duval County Property Appraiser
What do you see as the top three issues in this race?
Demonstrated experience in running a large organization in local government.
Treating every taxpayer equally with efficiency and effectiveness.
Implementing new ideas, procedures, and technologies in tax collection.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I am the only candidate with a proven record running a large, constitutionally mandated office in local government. I have deep experience in both the management of and the theory behind the operation of municipal government.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Creating one of the best tax collection offices in Florida.
Campaign website: www.jimoverton.com
Social media: Facebook
Early voting runs from March 4 through 17 at more than a dozen locations, with all Duval County precincts open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 19. Vote-by-mail ballots are available from the Supervisor of Elections Office and must be returned by 7 p.m. March 19.