Milissa Holland was elected to the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners in November, 2006 and made history as the Board’s first female Commissioner. In November, 2008 Ms. Holland was elected the first female Commission Chair and represented the Board at the local, state, and national levels, always looking out for the best interests of the residents of Flagler County. On June 18, 2010, the closing date to qualify as a candidate for the November, 2010 election, Ms. Holland was declared the winner of that election as an unopposed candidate for a second four-year term as a Flagler County Commissioner.

Commissioner Holland serves on the Board of Directors of the prestigious organization 1000 Friends of Florida. This organization promotes healthy urban and natural places by wise management of growth change. It educates, advocates, negotiates and, when necessary, litigates to protect Florida’s high quality of life. It has the technical knowledge and access needed to ensure that public and private decisions lead to livable communities.

On April 12, 2010 Secretary of State Kurt Browning appointed Ms. Holland to a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Museum of Florida History. This Board generates financial support through fundraising for museum exhibitions, programs, and facilities, and encourages public awareness of museum resources.

In making the appointment, Secretary Browning said of Commissioner Holland: “Your strong motivation for preserving Florida’s history, your interest in public education, as well as your willingness to become engaged in the mission of the Museum of Florida History, eminently qualifies you for this position.”

Ms. Holland founded the James F. Holland Foundation, named after her father who served on the inaugural City of Palm Coast Council. The mission of the Holland Foundation is to “Grow Hope in the Children of Flagler County” and its focus is to raise funds and initiate programs which benefit the children and youth of Flagler County through the formation of partnerships with local, state and national agencies and organizations. The Flagler County Sexual Assault Task Force, an inter-disciplinary team that is focused on promoting awareness, education, and prevention of sexual abuse, and the Holland Foundation Working Group for Special Needs Children are both umbrella entities working to accomplish the mission of their parent organization.

Since her election to the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Holland has worked tirelessly toward a dynamic vision for the future of Flagler County.

During her tenure as Commission Chair, the Board adopted a five-year (2010-2015) Flagler County Strategic Plan which sets forth a vision for a higher quality of life for every resident of the community. The Strategic Plan envisions a diversified economy with a higher median income for residents; protected and conserved natural resources; cherished and nurtured arts, culture, and education; and local governments working collectively on enhanced services in law enforcement, transportation, and utilities.

As a result of her leadership, regular meetings throughout each year were instituted between elected officials from the County, each local municipality, and the school board to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. These meetings have resulted in the sharing of services and costs where feasible and appropriate, allowing taxpayer dollars to be directed to other much needed services for Flagler County residents.

Commissioner Holland was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to the Flagler County Future Committee, which is charged with the task of re-write of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. This Plan will determine the growth patterns of Flagler County for years to come and is slated to be completed in the year 2010.

On the Future Committee, Ms. Holland brings the same vision of responsible long-term growth, including preservation of the community’s natural resources and the enhancement of the community’s quality of life, which she has had the privilege to enjoy for over twenty years.

As the Board’s representative on the Northeast Florida Regional Council, she recognizes, promotes, and protects Flagler County’s position as a contributing partner in the region. She took a prominent role in the Council’s Reality Check Project, which brought together seven counties, including Flagler, and three-hundred leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to discuss, analyze, and develop growth scenarios for the region through the year 2060.

Ms. Holland also serves on the Regional Council’s Legislative Committee. She was elected by representatives of six other counties to Chair the creation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee.

Recently she was appointed to serve on the Governance and Coordination and Community Livability, Environmental Stewardship and Mobility Advisory Groups to the Department of Transportation 2060 Steering Committee. These advisory groups will develop initial draft goals, objectives and implementation strategies for consideration by the Steering Committee as it creates a vision for the future of transportation in Florida and drafts the goals, objectives, and strategies necessary to achieve that vision.

Commissioner Holland was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to represent Flagler County on the Regional Transportation Committee. This Committee was established by a bill passed by the Florida Legislature, and her representation assured Flagler County’s transportation needs were articulated and considered.

Ms. Holland envisioned, established, and Chairs the Institute of Sustainable Living, Inc. The mission of this organization is to establish an Institute to advance the concept of sustainable living through research, education, and applied demonstration projects to support environmentally compatible economic development. The Institute will provide community-based solutions to regional, national, and global environmental challenges within the northeast region of Florida.

Ms. Holland also serves as Chair of the Flagler County Tourist Development Council. She was a member of the 2009 Planning Committee which was charged with developing a Strategic Plan for Tourism. During her tenure, new policies were adopted by both the Tourist Development Council and the Board of County Commissioners ensuring wise expenditure of bed tax dollars, focusing on efforts to promote eco-tourism in the community.

Commissioner Holland also represents the County Commission and Flagler County residents through her appointments to the following committees and boards:

• Scenic A1A PRIDE Committee (Liaison)
• University of Florida Partnership for Water, Agriculture, and Community Sustainability at Hastings Advisory Committee
• St. Johns River to Sea Loop
• Management Advisory Group for the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR)

She enjoys many social activities and extensive community service through her membership in the Palm Coast Elks #2709 and the Irish Social Club.

Milissa Holland was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1971 and moved with her family to Flagler County in 1987. She is the mother of three children.