Meet Brad
The hometown businessman watching the books.
Brad Baker is the Republican candidate for re-election to the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, Northern District Seat 1 — the incumbent Treasurer, a lifelong Sarasotan, and the independent watchdog on Sarasota Memorial's books.
Sarasota Roots
Sarasota built him.
Brad grew up here. As a student at Pine View School, he interned at Sarasota Memorial Hospital — a month in every department, from admissions to surgery — learning how a great hospital works from the inside.
While still in high school, he founded a four-store computer retail chain — the premier Apple and IBM dealer in Southwest Florida. He founded Sarasota County Teenage Republicans in 1981 and organized the Venice Beach renourishment effort, successfully lobbying state and federal governments.
Builder
He built companies — and firsts.
At 25, Brad founded Tech:Time, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTME), the first company ever taken public in Sarasota County, growing it past $30 million in sales.
He later founded NetLine Communications, one of Florida’s first Internet providers — acquired by Comcast, where Brad launched the cable-modem era and installed the first cable modem in the world, right here in Sarasota. He ran for Congress in Florida’s 13th District in 1992.
Trusted in Washington
Two presidents trusted him with the books.
In 1988, at 28, President Reagan appointed Brad a White House Fellow, serving as Special Assistant at the U.S. Treasury. His service continued under President George H.W. Bush, helping stand up the Resolution Trust Corporation — the agency that resolved the S&L crisis — alongside Alan Greenspan, Nicholas Brady, and Jack Kemp. Two presidents trusted him with the nation’s books. Now he watches the books of the hospital your family depends on — and charges you nothing for it.
Trusted in Tallahassee (and Topeka)
Governors called on him to clean things up.
Appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to clean up the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Brad ran $1 billion in annual housing programs — Florida Trend put him on its cover for the turnaround.
He was appointed to Florida’s state healthcare planning board, where he chaired the Ethics and Rules Committee; named by Gov. Rick Scott as a Trustee of New College of Florida; and serves on the SRQ Airport Advisory Board. He also served as Kansas Deputy Secretary of Commerce, 2018–2019.
Governance Credentials
He knows how to sit on a board — and hold it accountable.
Brad chaired the Audit, Compensation, and Governance committees of Odyssey Marine Exploration (NASDAQ) and served as Audit Chair of DOBI Medical, an early-detection breast-cancer diagnostics company. He served on the NASDAQ Ethics Committee and completed Harvard Business School executive education in public-company directorship. He has audited billion-dollar companies for a living. Today he applies that same scrutiny to one thing: making sure your hospital is there, strong and public, the night your family needs it.
Today
Watching your hospital's books.
Elected by Sarasota County voters in 2022, Brad is Treasurer of the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board and chair of its Investment Committee. He is an affordable-housing developer, a licensed contractor, an instrument-rated pilot, and a lifelong Sarasotan.
Questions & Answers
In Brad’s own words.
Drawn from Brad’s answers to Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey, July 2026.
Why is Brad running for re-election?
Good governance, affordable health care, fiscal responsibility. Brad provides continuity for the major projects on the near horizon: completing the $450 million North Port Hospital; converting 90 unrelated software systems into a single Epic system (an almost $200 million project); governance of CEO compensation and capital purchases; and long-term planning to expand facilities to meet the community's needs. SMH has a $2.5 billion budget and over 12,000 employees — it is a taxpayer-supported hospital, so representation matters.
What are the three key messages of his campaign?
Independent Director — he is not, and has never been, employed by the hospital, which makes him unique in this race. Smart Expansion — he grew up in South County and strongly supports the expansion to Venice and North Port. Fiscal Responsibility — as a watchdog for every citizen, he makes sure taxpayer money is well spent to ensure the highest-quality healthcare on Florida's west coast.
What does he believe this office is really about?
Capital allocation and succession planning. In Brad's words: “I'm not trying to be a manager — I leave that for management. The board should oversee the hospital.” The core responsibility is allocating funds as if they were your own. The job is unpaid, and he is there to serve.
What qualifies him for the role?
Brad took the first company public in Sarasota County and, as a serial entrepreneur, has taken three companies public — including a healthcare company that provided early detection of breast cancer. He has been appointed to positions by two U.S. Presidents and three governors, and has grown and led major public companies, including federal and state government programs.
What legacy does he want to leave?
The successful expansion of Venice Hospital and the North Port facility — world-class care closer to where the community lives and works.
Who does he look up to?
Abraham Lincoln — a true leader who took unpopular views but did the right thing. Asked what matters most in an elected official, Brad's answer is two words: honesty and integrity.
What was his very first job?
Paper boy — for ten years. He has also known real struggle: raising a child as a single parent.
Read Brad’s complete survey responses on Ballotpedia.