Janelle Irwin Taylor
Nancy Millan announced a trove of high-profile endorsements Friday, answering reports earlier in the week of several supporters of her opponent, April Griffin.
The two Democrats are running to replace Republican Doug Belden as Hillsborough County Tax Collector.
The list includes state Sen. Janet Cruz, former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Hillsborough County Clerk of Court Pat Frank, Tampa City Council members Charlie Miranda and Joe Citro, former Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and former Sen. and University of South Florida President Betty Castor.
“Nancy Millan has the experience and the values to lead one of the state’s largest Tax Collector’s Office, and she has my full endorsement to be our next Hillsborough County Tax Collector,” Cruz said. “For 30 years, Nancy worked her way up through the ranks from an accounting clerk to a senior level director serving on the team that modernized and implemented customer service efficiencies saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Nancy will bring this kind of leadership and innovation to our Tax Collector’s Office.”
Millan currently serves as the Director of Community Relations, an executive-level position under Belden. Belden has already endorsed Millan as his successor.
Millan began her career at the Tax Collector’s office as an accounting clerk.
“Hillsborough County needs elected officials who have the experience necessary to deliver the kind of public service that our residents deserve, and I am happy to endorse Nancy Millan for Hillsborough County Tax Collector,” Frank said. “Nancy has played an integral role in making the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office the Gold Standard in Florida, and she will continue to do so as the next Hillsborough County Tax Collector.”
Millan has already picked up endorsements from Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller and former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.
She is also leading the fundraising race so far against Griffin.
“I am proud to endorse Nancy Millan to be our next Hillsborough County Tax Collector,” Miranda said. “I’ve known Nancy for many years, and she has the experience, skills, and the temperament to effectively run the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office.”
Citro praised Millan for her ties to the community as a lifelong Tampa Bay area resident. Sink said the agency needs an experienced leader to manage its $2 billion in annual collections.
“Nancy Millan has spent decades serving our community and dedicated her career to making our Tax Collector’s office the gold standard in the state of Florida, and I am happy to endorse her to be the next Hillsborough County Tax Collector,” Buckhorn said. “In order for our County to properly function, we need effective, experienced, and competent leadership at the helm of the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office, and Nancy is the right candidate to get the job done.”
Millan has worked for the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s office for three decades.
“I am humbled and thankful to have the endorsement of such amazing leaders in our community, and each of them has left a lasting impact on Hillsborough County,” Millan said. “As Hillsborough County’s next Tax Collector, I will continue to modernize the Tax Collector’s Office, ensure that Hillsborough County’s tax dollars are distributed efficiently and correctly, and I will make the Office even more accessible to best serve our residents.”
