The Florida City-County Management Association (FCCMA) has recognized Nassau County Manager Taco Pope for his personal and professional excellence in local government administration. Last month, the FCCMA publicly celebrated achievements of its members and their significant contributions to the management of local government as part of the association’s annual State conference. County Manager Pope was one of only two City/County Managers selected statewide for the FCCMA’s 2022 Who’s Who Under 40 Award.
The Who’s Who Under 40 Award was created by the FCCMA to acknowledge the industry’s top emerging talent who will serve as an integral part of local government for years to come. To be considered, the recipient must have a great aptitude for local government work and must exemplify the tenets of the code of ethics established by the International City/County Manager’s Association (ICMA).
FCCMA’s Association Services Coordinator, Nykierama Cooper, stated, “The Who’s Who Under 40 Award recognizes top local government leaders in Florida under the age of 40 for their personal and professional excellence. Those selected are among the industry’s top emerging talent and will be an integral part of the FCCMA and local government administration for years to come. Mr. Pope was selected for this award because of his contribution to the field of Public Administration and for his positive community impact.”
Board of County Commissioners Chairman Jeff Gray stated, “Taco is an excellent example of what a true public servant should be. He is devoted to the success of the County and the well-being of its residents. His long-term vision and strong work ethic provides the foundation needed to establish generational sustainability and a quality of life that our residents can enjoy for years to come. We are happy to have him on our team and are excited about the County’s future under his leadership.”
In response to receiving the state-wide recognition, County Manager Pope stated, “I am humbled to be recognized by my peers from across the State. I am extremely appreciative to receive validation from a respected independent third-party like the FCCMA. This recognition reaffirms that we, as a collective community, are making tremendous strides forward. Ultimately, this is our home and it is what we make it.”
As County Manager, Mr. Pope serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the county government. He provides fiscal, strategic, and operational leadership to the organization, as well as sound analysis and professional recommendations and implementation of the Board’s policies. The County Manager promotes quality-of-life/quality-of-place and generational sustainability through the professional management of the organization’s resources.
Mr. Pope is a native Floridian and 35-year resident of Northeast Florida. He is a certified professional planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) with seventeen years of local government experience in the State of Florida. Taco has served Nassau County citizens as both a technical practitioner in the field of urban/community planning and as an administrator/program manager. Prior to accepting the position of Nassau County Manager in 2020, Taco served the citizens of Nassau County in several roles including, Assistant County Manager, Planning and Economic Opportunity Director, and as a community planner. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and two Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Administration.
Beginning this Fall, Mr. Pope will be hosting “Ask the County Manager” sessions across the county where citizens can discuss current topics with the County Manager and senior staff members. Be sure to sign up for the weekly County news blast at https://bit.ly/NassauNews to be notified of the meetings.