Jerome “Jerry” Patchen and Elizabeth Franklin have been elected co-chairs of the Fluvanna Taxpayers Association for 2011 by FTA’s Steering Committee.
Rounding out FTA’s Steering Committee are Membership Director Norma Hutner, Recording Secretary Carolyn Kardan, Treasurer Adrian Miller and Director-at-Large Jacques Ruch.

“Like most Fluvanna taxpayers, I’m proud to be able to contribute my share of taxes. The only thing is—I could be just as proud for half the money, and a whole lot less spending and borrowing,” says Patchen. “That’s why we all need to actively support the mission of FTA!”

He joined FTA’s leadership group last year as Director-at-Large. A retired professor of computer information systems, Patchen has been constructing a new soon-to-launch website for FTA. He also brings a wealth of government, public policy and business experience to FTA. Besides working for New York and Virginia state governments for more than 30 years, he was director of the Planning & Program Development Policy Division of Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services. He has served on blue ribbon state government commissions and is a consultant to the Council on Virginia’s Future. His peer-reviewed articles have appeared in numerous public policy journals. Patchen ran for Fluvanna commissioner of the revenue and owns a historic farm in Palmyra.

“When I look back on 2010, I see taxpayers showing up and speaking out in grassroots actions that made FTA an organization to be reckoned with,” says Franklin. “I’m excited about working with Jerry to make FTA even more of a force for fiscal sanity in 2011. He brings great new energy and talents to the job. Our late founder, Lee True, would surely approve and applaud leaders like Jerry stepping up to fight for taxpayers.”

Franklin has been FTA Chair since 2009. She joined FTA at its first public meeting and its Steering Committee shortly thereafter as Media/Public Relations Director and as Strategic Advisor. She has helped lead FTA’s research and referendum campaign on the joint water authority and represented FTA on the Citizens Water Committee. She spearheaded FTA’s contribution of a first-ever fiscal chapter to the county’s Comprehensive Plan, leading to adoption of a “Financial Sustainability” chapter in 2009. Franklin brings years of journalism and business experience to FTA. She is a former metropolitan newspaper editor and O.Henry Award-winning writer. A small business owner and former Procter & Gamble executive, she was named “Woman Business Owner of the Year” by the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Dallas.

The FTA is a nonpartisan organization founded to educate and advocate for taxpayers on local tax issues. For more information about FTA, call (434) 589-8435 or e-mail .