PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – – More than 23 years ago, Pinellas County Tax Collector Charles W. Thomas’ predecessor, the Honorable Diane Nelson offered him the position of Chief Deputy Tax Collector.
Mr. Thomas’ skills and experience in leadership, strategic planning, and customer service in the private sector were desired. Diane’s platform, her vision for the office included customer service delivery excellence, offering e-payment options and adopting valuable private sector best practices.
He was intrigued and excited by that vision and accepted the position. For the next 16 years, Mr. Thomas worked to make that vision a reality for the Pinellas County Tax Collector organization.
Along the way, he became a devotee of the Governor’s Florida Sterling Organizational Management System. He was the driving force behind the Pinellas County tax collector office’s Governor’s Sterling Award in 2013 and the Sterling Sustained Excellence Award in 2016.
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In 2016, Mr. Thomas was elected to be the Pinellas County tax collector after Ms. Nelson’s retirement. His platform and vision for the organization included a continuance of customer service excellence with an expansion to include internal customers and the workforce. It also included a more systematic approach to data and systems security as cybersecurity threats were increasing, a continuation of following the Sterling Organizational Management System, smart use of value-added technology, and building a robust leadership development program.
The agency has continued to provide high levels of customer service, which now include internal customers as well. Significant progress has been made in systems and data security, including a systems and data recovery plan. In 2020, the tax collector’s office won a third Sterling Award and a second Governor’s Sterling Award, the first tax collector in the state to do so. By the end of 2024, every significant application, including the underlying architecture, and systems used by the organization will have been replaced or upgraded. Furthermore, the tax collector’s office has a deep bench of future leaders due to the in-house leadership development program.
Mr. Thomas is proud of his service to this community and the many accomplishments he’s made over the years during his tenure at the Pinellas County tax collector’s office, including his service as the Pinellas County tax collector. Now, it is time for Mr. Thomas to pursue a new direction as he will not seek reelection for a third term.
His service to the community as the Pinellas County tax collector will conclude at the end of his current term – December 31, 2024.
The Pinellas County tax collector’s office provides vital and important services to the community. Mr. Thomas knows what it takes to lead and build on the numerous accomplishments of the Tax Collector’s office, and he is extremely excited to announce his endorsement of Adam Ross for the next Pinellas County tax collector.
Mr. Thomas strongly believes Mr. Ross is the right candidate for the job and encouraged him to run for the Pinellas County tax collector position. Mr. Ross’ leadership skills, experience with both county and state government, unparalleled commitment to serving this community, and business experience in the private sector make him the ideal candidate. Mr. Thomas strongly endorses and supports Adam Ross for the next Pinellas County tax collector.
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