INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Political veteran Tax Collector Carole Jean Jordan has fended off former County Commissioner Tom Lowther in his bid to unseat her after one term in office.
Jordan came out strong in the absentee and early vote and held that lead through election-day voting.
Voters cast 11,448 votes for Jordan to Lowther’s 7,469.
Jordan celebrated at her home Tuesday night with more than 100 volunteers and supporters. When it was clear she had won, she hopped up on the hearth of her fireplace and gave a speech, thanking everyone who had helped win a decisive victory over Lowther with the county’s Republicans.
Lowther argued that it was time for a change. He said he could improve customer service and streamline operations at the Tax Collector’s Office.
He touted his experience both on the County Commission and as a second-generation funeral director as reason to give him a chance to tackle the Tax Collector job, which is as much about dealing with people as it is about dealing with money.
Jordan ran on her record of taking on increased responsibilities while cutting the budget. Her office absorbed the testing for and issuance of Florida driver licenses and she said she was still able to return $12.5 million to the taxpayers of Indian River County.
“What’s important is that people appreciate the job that I’ve done,” Jordan said after final returns came in. “When they come in our office they’re treated with utmost courtesy and we do everything we can to help them.”
The Tax Collector’s Office is not permitted to maintain a large surplus, so any money saved is turned back over to the Board of County Commissioners to meet other operational needs.
Jordan has now won the Republican primary, but she will face non-partisan candidate Barry Barnard in November.
“This has been a great evening,” Jordan said. “But I still have the general (election).”
Jordan will face Barry Barnard, a registered Republican who filed to run as a No Party Affiliate, in the November General Election.