Jessica Carter Laird is a dedicated public servant, community leader, and Republican candidate for Walton County Tax Collector. Jessica is a resident of DeFuniak Springs and a Walton County native with a deep commitment to serving the community she proudly calls home. With nearly two decades of service in the Tax Collector’s Office and a strong understanding of local government operations, Jessica is dedicated to ensuring the office works efficiently, transparently, and in the best interest of the people.
Jessica holds a Certified Public Manager certification from Florida State University and is a Certified Supervisory Manager. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Northwest Florida Tax Collector Coalition and Chair of the Florida Tax Collectors Resiliency Coalition (emergency preparedness, response and recovery), reflecting her leadership and commitment at both the local and state levels. Additionally, Jessica was instrumental in advocating for and supporting changes to Florida Administrative Rules regarding title and registration processes to ensure that individuals must provide valid legal presence documentation to title a vehicle in the State of Florida.
Jessica has been married to her husband, Eric Laird, for 27 years, and together they have raised two sons, Mason and Noah. Her roots in Walton County, along with her commitment to family and community, shape her values of hard work, integrity, and service.
As a candidate for Walton County Tax Collector, Jessica’s campaign is focused on three key priorities:
Expand Access to Services Without Growing Government
Jessica believes taxpayers deserve convenient, accessible, and modern services without unnecessary government expansion. She is committed to streamlining operations to make services faster and more efficient while expanding user-friendly online options and secure digital access for residents.
She believes government should adapt to the needs of the people, not require people to adapt to government. Residents should not be forced to navigate unnecessary barriers such as appointment-only systems for routine transactions, requirements to travel to specific locations for basic services, or frequent office closures for obscure holidays that limit public access. Jessica will focus on maximizing service availability, reducing wait times, and ensuring taxpayers can access the services they need when and where they need them.
As part of this effort, Jessica will explore the installation of secure self-service kiosks in high-traffic locations throughout Walton County, allowing residents to complete common transactions quickly and conveniently without having to visit a Tax Collector’s office. By bringing services closer to where people live, work, and shop, these kiosks can improve accessibility while maintaining fiscal responsibility and avoiding the cost of expanding government facilities.
Through innovation, efficiency, and customer-focused service, Jessica will make government more accessible while remaining a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.
Protect the Community Through Secure, Accountable Service
Safeguarding the community is at the core of Jessica’s mission. She will ensure all transactions are secure and accurate, implement strong protections against fraud and waste, maintain transparent financial processes that build public trust, and work in coordination with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to ensure only individuals who meet all legal eligibility requirements are issued driver licenses.
Jessica’s leadership in strengthening Florida’s title and registration requirements demonstrates her commitment to protecting the integrity of government systems and ensuring compliance with state law.
Build a Culture of Excellence
Jessica is dedicated to fostering a professional, results-driven environment within the Tax Collector’s Office. She will prioritize efficient and responsive operations, invest in employee development, promote accountability at every level, and ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Her goal is to create a culture where excellence is expected, innovation is encouraged, and customer service is always the priority.
With her experience, leadership, and clear vision for the future, Jessica Carter Laird is ready to lead the Walton County Tax Collector’s Office with integrity, accountability, and service.
Jessica Carter Laird — Results-Driven Servant Leader
Experienced. Proven. Ready to Serve.
