- January 7, 2025
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Incoming Flagler County Tax Collector Shelly Edmonson (right) presents Suzanne Johnston with a plaque honoring her 55 years of public service. The plaque will have a permanent home in the Government Services Building. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Tax Collector's office employee Alyssa Gross with Suzanne Johnston. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler County Sheriff's Office Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge swore in Suzanne Johnston as an honorary deputy. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Former Flagler Beach Mayor Suzy Johnston related the story of how her mother started working at the Flagler County Tax Assessor's office 55 years ago. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Friends, family and colleagues congratulated retiring Flagler County Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston on a poster board. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler County employees Grace Seay Peres, Ashley Eddy and Steve Birdsong with retiring Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Suzanne Johnston with her family. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Incoming Tax Collector Shelly Edmondson (right) gives her boss, Suzanne Johnston, a hug during Johnston's retirement ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler County Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston holds up a "Make America Great Again" hat, which was among her many retirement gifts. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler County Attorney Al Hadeed told Johnston, "We are truly indebted to you for the legacy that you leave." Photo by Brent Woronoff
Shelly Edmonson, who is scheduled to be sworn in as the new Flagler County tax collector on Tuesday, Jan. 7, officiated the retirement ceremony for Suzanne Johnston. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler County Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston, with her successor Shelly Edmonson, holds up a Donald Trump novelty photo with note. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler County Sheriff's Office Chief of Staff Mark Strobidge and retiring Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston applaud after Johnston was sworn in as an honorary FCSO deputy. Photo by Brent Woronoff
This story was updated to show that Suzanne Johnston received a personalized Donald Trump novelty photo.
Flagler County Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston received several gifts during her retirement ceremony Friday, Jan. 3, at the Government Services Building. The ceremony celebrated Johnson’s 55 years in public service.
Most of the gifts she could take home. One she could not, which is just as well, incoming Tax Collector Shelly Edmonson said, because it is a plaque.
“She’s not really fond about getting a plaque that has her name on it,” said Edmonson, who officiated the ceremony. “She's like, ‘What am I going to do with it?’ So, I assured her that she was not getting a plaque to take home. It’s a plaque that will be displayed inside this building forever.”
The large metal plate shows a photo of Johnston next to an inscription that reads: “In grateful recognition of Honorable Suzanne Johnston. Honoring 55 years of public service to the residents of Flagler County. Her outstanding leadership, commitment to excellence and endless contributions have broadened the path for those who walk behind her. Thank you for your dedication to Flagler County. Serving the citizens of Flagler County from 1970 to 2025. Appointed Flagler County Property Appraiser in 1981 and elected Flagler County Tax Collector from 2005 to 2025.”
“And at the very end, underneath her name,” Edmonson added, “it says, ‘She made a difference.’ Because she really did.”
Flagler County officials took turns honoring Johnston.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly was unable to attend but appeared in a video in which he congratulated Johnston on her retirement and made a request. He said Johnston had “repossessed” the gun of Flagler County’s first sheriff, E.W. Johnston, the grandfather of Suzanne Johnston’s husband, Albert Johnson Jr.
Staly said the gun “would look really good” in the museum at The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center on EW Johnston Drive in Bunnell. In return, he noted that Suzanne Johnston had mentioned that in retirement she might want to help out the FCSO in solving cold cases. So FCSO Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge swore her in as an honorary deputy.
She’s not really fond about getting a plaque that has her name on it. ... So, I assured her that she was not getting a plaque to take home. It’s a plaque that will be displayed inside this building forever.
— SHELLY EDMONSON, incoming Flagler County Tax Collector
Her staff gave her a goodie basket. With the assistance of Flagler County Republican Executive Committee Board Chair Perry Mitrano, Johnston will be receiving gifts from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, Edmonson said. With the help of former Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins, Edmonson said, Johnston, a lifelong Republican, received a “Make America Great Again” hat along with a novelty photo of President-Elect Donald Trump with a note that reads, “Suzanne, thank you for your loyalty and support. Together we will make America great again.”
Johnston’s daughter, former Flagler Beach Mayor Suzy Johnston, related the story of how her mother joined the tax collector's office 55 years ago.
Her parents were returning from their honeymoon and stopped at the old post office in Bunnell, Suzy Johnston said.
“My dad went in to check the mail and my mom was sitting in the car and she heard (a tap) on the window. It was (Tax Assessor) Don Moore. My mom rolled down the window and he said, ‘Well, I spoke to your husband inside and you're starting to work on Monday.’”
She has been there ever since. In 1981, then-Gov. Bob Graham appointed Johnston to finish the property appraiser's term for a year. In 2004, when Suzette Pellicer retired as tax collector, Johnston ran for the office, winning handily in both the Republican primary and the general election. That was her only contested election. She was re-elected, unchallenged, four times.
Edmonson praised Johnston for always making sure that residents are always treated with respect and making sure customer service is the office’s No. 1 priority.
Flagler County Attorney Al Hadeed told Johnston, “It's not just that you're a good tax collector. You are. … What you're leaving behind is not your past accomplishments, it's what you've created for the future, for the next 50 years. The Tax Collector's office is going to run smoothly with great ethics, with great respect for citizens and with great efficiency, because you taught your people, not just by rote, but by example, and you let them participate. You put them in leadership positions (so they) will serve Flagler County for a long time.”
Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance, former Commissioner George Hanns also praised Johnston's accomplishments. Michelle Morgan, the chief deputy at the Flagler County Property Appraiser’s Office, thanked Johnston for getting her a job in the Property Appraiser's Office 23 years ago simply because Johnston overheard a conversation.
“They can say all they want about me,” Johnston said. “But it's not me. I'm not the one out there helping the public. It is my staff. And I cannot do the job by myself. I hired the smartest people I can, the nicest people I can.”
