He's an everywhere man

Von Fraser, Couny tax collector embraces service

Photo/GLENN COINE/Alachua County Today

At age 72, Alachua County Tax Collector Von Fraser has been on the job for nearly 30 years, and he takes great pride in keeping his employees happy. Frasier says the office is female-dominated, adding that they're all great women.

He’s a Georgia man.  His hands have picked cotton and cropped tobacco.  His dark blue suit jacket is adorned with various pins, proclaiming membership or support of numerous causes.  At 72, he has seen Alachua County grow; he experienced football tragedy and triumph, shaken the hands of poor men to politicians, but most of all, he has made a difference.

Von Fraser is the local tax collector.  When someone needs to renew a vehicle registration or pay property taxes, he is the man to see.  While his office is near the back of the building, occasionally he will work the counter, typing in information and shaking hands, not because he has to, but because he wants to.

“Even though I am management,” Fraser said, “I am a laborer at heart.”

His business is money; his passion is helping.  In his own words, he “shattered the view of the tax collector.”

On any given day Fraser can be found at a local elementary school, where he is a part of the PTAs, SACs, Arts Council and numerous other programs.

“My three groups are seniors, babies and young adults,” Fraser said. “Everyone else is on their own.”

Fraser makes sure to attend as many events held for children as possible, reading and supporting in any way that he can.

“‘Mr. Fraser, you missed our last play’ they all said in unison,’” Fraser recalled laughing.  The children of a local elementary school made it known that his presence was missing and they had noticed. 

“Young people are our hope,” Fraser said before going into another story about the local school children.

He is a lifetime member of the Alachua County Education Association, placing education as one of his top priorities.

“Education is key to freedom. I don’t just want them to graduate from high school and go to college to get their Bachelor’s; I want them to get their Ph.D.,” said Fraser. “I want the children to reach their highest potential.”

As he sits, his hands move, helping to tell countless stories about the individuals he’s met, the children who have hugged him around the legs, or the possibilities of a better tomorrow.  Despite being born in 1938, Von Fraser is not a man to take things sitting down.

“The only way a public official can solve problems is to get out in the street,” Fraser explained. “You can’t solve anything from behind your desk.”

At his office, Fraser got his employees to become involved in Cell phones for Soldiers, a national cell phone recycling program, which donates calling cards to soldiers stationed overseas.  The office collects used cell phones, which are then sent to a recycling center.  The center pays for the phones, allowing Cell phones for Soldiers to buy enough calling cards for the soldiers. 

Out of the 1,531 sites participating in Florida, the Alachua County Tax Collector’s office is number one as they approach nearly 10,000 donated phones.

Fraser is passionate about military families, as he spent three years in the Army, and is part of three veterans’ organizations.

“I don’t go looking for recognition,” Fraser said. “I let it find me.”

Through his work in the community, he has been honored numerous times and is a member of UF’s prestigious Florida Blue Key.  While he attended UF for his bachelor’s in business administration he worked full time, putting himself through college.

“I took 11 years to get from a small Georgia school to UF,” Fraser recalled. “I took 21 hours the first four semesters; I didn’t know there was an hour’s limit.  My social life was church on Sunday.”

Fraser still goes to church, connecting himself with many pastors and religious leaders in the community, going not to campaign, but to worship.

“I pride myself on only having left a service early once, and I asked the congregation for permission,” Fraser said. “I go because I want to worship with them, not come to just speak and leave.”

As he spoke, his voiced filled with soft tones of adoration and love for the community he calls home.

“I almost wish I had been raised here,” said the Doerun, Ga., native.

In his work life, it is easy to be detached, concentrating on the numbers rather than the people, but Fraser doesn’t want it to be that way.

“They have done a lot for me and I try and give it back,” Fraser said.

Fraser’s office only sold 38 properties out of 100,000 last year for back taxes, compared to neighboring counties that sold 600 and 800.  The most the county has sold with him in office is 50, and Fraser wants to make sure the number does not get any bigger than that.

“I have been here almost 30 years and we have never sold a Mom and Pop homestead,” Fraser said. “I will do everything in my power to not sell.”

As he bustles around Alachua County, Fraser hopes to not just make a difference but influence others to do so as well.

“I am the guy you will see at most events,” Fraser admitted. “But I just like taking care of my community, I have adopted these people.”

He urges people to just be as “one-third active” as he is, helping to strengthen the youth into “taxpayers, not tax takers.”

He is cautious with how money is spent at his office, wanting to be conscious of money that comes in and money that goes out.

“I am not frugal, I am stingy,” Fraser said with a laugh. “I am generous with my staff; I am generous in my community.  I believe in sharing the wealth.  If I made a difference in government, so can you.”

In Orange County, the current tax collector is 93 years old.  Fraser wants to be the first to be 100.

“I want to be here for the people. I pray to the Lord to give me a long life,” Fraser said softly. “I love people; my goal in life is to help as many people as I can before I leave Earth.”

With each hand he shakes, or with each child he reads a book, Fraser is doing just that.

“I am an elected official, but I am still earning it,” Fraser said. “Helping people is what I do.”